Student Wellbeing is Our Priority
Wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at Snowy Mountains Grammar School. We strive for every member of our community to be healthy and thriving.
Our approach to student wellbeing is holistic. This means we provide the best care for the heart, mind and physical wellbeing of each student so that they can be equipped with the mindset and tools to best care for themselves. We do this so that our young people can experience success in learning and life.
Guided by the Australian Student Wellbeing Framework, we focus on safety, wellbeing and positive relationships. Snowy Mountains Grammar School’s bespoke 4 Peaks Program also promotes positive behaviours aligned with our core values: Care, Authenticity, Respect and Empathy.
Holistic approaches that balance academic success with personal growth
- Student voice
- Pastoral Care/ Tutor Group classes each day
- Co-curricular activities
- Service Learning
- Secret Men’s and Women’s Business
- Student support services
- Student Representative Council
- Student Partnership
- Targeted Wellbeing Days
- Prefect Leadership
A strong network of support
Class teachers and pastoral leaders including Stage and Year Level Coordinators check in regularly with each of our precious young people to understand their wellbeing needs and find the best ways to support them. We believe in maintaining strong partnerships with our families at all points of the process.
Our Student Counsellors provide individual support to students, responding to referrals from teachers and Year Level Coordinators. All boarders and their families can also access our Counsellors for the assistance they need to thrive.
Chapels, Assemblies and Year Level Meetings
Chapels, Assemblies and Year Level Meetings are regular and special times in our School program to come together, connect and focus on spiritual growth, social and emotional wellbeing and our School values of Care, Authenticity, Respect and Empathy.
Students’ wonderful gifts are also shared through creative performances as well as through their academic, performing arts, sporting and service learning achievements.
House Spirit
Our House system is a cherished tradition that creates a strong sense of spirit, belonging and wellbeing. Students from Kindergarten to Year 12 proudly represent their House and earn points through a range of activities and achievements which include:
- Swimming Carnival, Cross-Country Carnival and Athletics Carnival
- Academic achievements including Endeavour and Merit Awards.
- Contributions to wellbeing under our 4 Peaks structure and
- Reflecting our core School values: Courage, Authenticity, Respect and Empathy.
Together, these opportunities inspire teamwork and a shared commitment to excellence as Houses strive towards the prestigious House Shield and House Spirit Shield, which are awarded at the end of each year.
School Houses
The four Houses celebrate local geographical features and take their shields from our school crest.
Cascades is represented in the crest by the gum leaf, depicting Environment.
A cascade is a river environment where there is a waterfall or a series of small waterfalls over steep rocks. The streams and rivers of the Snowy Mountains have many such cascades. The Cascades region and Cascades Hut are found above Dead Horse Gap. The hut was built in 1935 by stockmen for use whilst grazing cattle. The hut and the Cascades region inspired Elyne Mitchell’s Sliver Brumby books.
Kiandra is represented in the crest by the linked fingers in Community.
For centuries before European settlement, Aboriginal tribes gathered in the Kiandra district in summer to feed on bogong moths. When the first Europeans arrived early in the nineteenth century, they used the high country for summer pasture for sheep and cattle.
Mowamba is represented in the crest by the flowing river, depicting Flexibility.
The Mowamba River is a tributary of the Snowy River, which flows south of Jindabyne, it is bridged by both the Barry Way and the Snowy River Way, before joining up with the Snowy River.
Twynam is represented in the crest by the mountain, depicting Challenge.
Mount Twynam is the third-highest mountain on mainland Australia. It is located in the Snowy Mountains on the Main Range, 8 kilometres north-west of Mount Kosciuszko.
Jack
“We are a very physical and athletic school. We mountain bike, ski and there’s running programs, swimming and being able to highlight your physical health makes you feel better.”
Clara
“Tutor group system in the mornings its good to get to know the kids in your tutor and your tutor teacher is always checking in on you to see if you are OK”
Dom
“The teachers always support me and other students whether its in exams or in class when you are stuck on something and having the school counsellors as they are always there for a chat if you need it.”