Pastoral Care in Desmond College involves all staff. It permeates throughout all aspects of school life.
Our STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM is a central and core part of this pastoral care system.
Our student support team has five members. The team has changed over the years but this team is working together for the last two academic years.
The team members are:-
- Principal
- Deputy Principal
- Guidance Counsellor
- Year Head
- Class Teacher
- HSCL
Membership of the Team changes according to need and availability; however core members remain the same i.e. Principal, Deputy and Guidance Counsellor.
Initially the Student Support Team was set up as a precaution to deal with any critical incidents that might occur in the school but it quickly moved on to be a support team for students. Members have received special training through the VEC.
Students are referred to the Team for reasons of concern such as:-
- Changes in behaviour or attitude
- Family difficulties
- Bereavement/separation/loss
- Loneliness
- Bullying
- Friendship difficulties
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Emotional issues
- General issues related to adolescence
Ideally referrals come through Class Tutors or Subject Teachers but any member of the Student Support Team can be contacted directly should there be any concern about a student.
All transfer students are met with by one member of the Student Support Team to ascertain any areas of concern in settling into a new school.