Student Happiness and Wellbeing
Student happiness and well-being is supported in a number of ways, from the smallest positive interaction between a student and member of staff, to whole school events such as International Day which celebrate diversity. It is also part of the curriculum in the shape of the PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economics) Programme from Year 1 to Year 11.
There are many other areas where Skt Josef’s support and promote well-being:
Whole School Anti-Bullying Approach
We have adopted the definition of bullying behaviour from ‘The Diana Award’ charity. It states ‘Bullying behaviour is repeated, negative behaviour that is intended to make others feel upset, uncomfortable or unsafe.’ This definition has been widely publicised throughout the school and explicitly taught to students of all ages in PSHE lessons. Our policy is to teach students to deal with conflict in a positive way, and thereby build social intelligence in our students.
We take bullying very seriously as a school, across the whole community, and will not tolerate bullying in any form. There is a program in place that ensures the whole school focuses on explicit teaching of anti-bullying strategies once a year. As part of this, students are taught to recognize the causes and effects of bullying behaviour and the different roles members of the class play in bullying situations.
AKT is a Danish acronym that roughly translates to Behaviour, Contact and Well-being. Using our school values and character development as a base, we strive to have a school that is warm, cheerful and tolerant. However, sometimes some groups need a little extra care. That is where AKT comes in.
AKT teachers work with a class to guide the class in ways to improve their social interactions and well-being. They will also work with the teachers to implement strategies to improve the learning environment, so all children can feel happy and safe.
The AKT teacher may interview individuals, hold support group style meetings, or help the teachers implement strategies to improve the classroom or playground atmosphere.
DESTY Program (Discovering Exceptional Strengths and Talents in You)
The DESTY island program was created by Educational Psychologist, Stephanie O’Malley, and is a unique approach designed to grow a child’s self-esteem and resilience.
By working with one of our school’s certified DESTY mentors, it aims to promote the development of a stable, positive relationship between a key adult and a child on a one-to-one basis. The program supports children in developing emotional intelligence by building up a rich emotional vocabulary as well as the skills needed to have insight into the feelings of others.
Cool Kids
The “Cool Kids programme” is an anxiety programme based on cognitive behavorial therapy with a focus on teaching practical skills. The program has undergone scientific evaluation and development to include the latest understanding of anxiety and its treatment.
When a student starts a program for anxiety in a Cool kids course, he/she (and the family) will be introduced to specific methods and strategies, so the family will get tools to help their child to understand and deal with their anxiety challenges.
Each session varies from conversations, tasks and teaching, together with a trained cool kids teacher.
Local organisations
At Skt Josef’s International School we also work closely with local organisations to support students and families.
One such place is Headspace in Roskilde. It is a free and non-committal counselling forum for young people between 12-25 years. There are no waiting lines, and you are always welcome there, if you need a talk. Most of the people who works there are volunteers who has gone through a training programme with focus on talking, listening, supporting, and guiding young people (and their parents) in distress. You can get in touch with Headspace on https://headspace.dk/