Student Matters

This week, all Middle and Senior Years students commenced the term with a Phase Assembly. These fortnightly assemblies were introduced in Term 2 and provide the students and staff in each phase an opportunity to share information, reinforce expectations, and celebrate student successes.

At this week’s assembly, students in the Middle Years were introduced to TASS by Mr Peter Mondolo (Dean of Academic Staff and Administration), and Mr Adam McPhee (Deputy Principal) presented to the Senior Years students.

The implementation of TASS will have an adjustment period; however it is hoped that the benefits will emerge as the term progresses. The daily notices are one feature which we hope will improve our communication with you and reduce the number of emails. You can access these through the calendar dropdown in the TASS Parent Lounge.

Mr Steven Hohn (Dean of Middle Years) and I addressed our respective phases regarding the expectations, or norms, for uniform, hair, and storing bags in student lockers throughout each school day. In the Senior Years assembly, I discussed with students the idea that a culture is learned by observing the social behaviour of a group of people. In our case, the younger students at Iona learn the cultural norms by seeing, hearing, and feeling the pride with which the older students present themselves and the positive behaviours they role model.

This term, we will aim to further improve these positive habits and behaviours, paying particular attention to arriving at school and class on time each day. Students are reminded that they should be in Home Room at 8.30am. This time is essential for keeping accurate student attendance records and for reading the daily notices, now available in the TASS Student Café.

I thank most students for their positive start to the term, and their continued compliance with these expectations.

PROSPER Wellbeing Lessons

This term, Year 8 and 10 students will be trialing an online platform called Wellio Education, which will support staff and students during PROSPER lessons. The platform is will provide relevant wellbeing resources and collect information to develop future PROSPER lessons. These resources are available for students and families to review by logging into their Wellio Education account.

PROSPER lessons build upon our students’ knowledge of wellbeing and provide them with a framework (SEARCH) for resources to boost their own wellbeing. The research linking wellbeing and learning outcomes is well documented, and at Iona, we continue to work with world leaders in the field of positive psychology through our partnership with Visible Wellbeing and Professor Lea Waters.

One pillar of the SEARCH framework is Emotional Management. In PROSPER lessons, students learn that emotions are wrapped up into every system of our body and are critical for our capacity to learn. Mary Helen Immordino-Young coined the phrase “I feel, therefore I learn”. Students investigate ways in which they can better manage their emotions by learning about concepts like the ‘Fight, Freeze, Flight’ response and the Amygdala hijack. Understanding how our brain works when we experience negative emotions better equips students to respond to emotions like anger, guilt, fear or sadness, and amplify their positive emotions.

Students also delve into proactive strategies such as breathing techniques and gratitude activities which help counteract negative emotions. Developing our understanding of emotions and the way our brain functions allows for productive learning conversations between staff and students leading to improved intellectual, emotional, and relational learning.

I encourage you to have conversations with your son/s about their PROSPER lessons and for parents of Year 8 and 10 students to look at the resources provided by the Wellio Education platform trial.

2026 Student Leadership Selection Process

This week, Year 11 students take the next step in their journey towards becoming the senior leaders of the College.

Students have now been invited to complete an application form and will attend information sessions during their break time over the coming weeks. This process will continue in Week 8 when selected candidates are invited to attend the Year 11 Leadership Experience Day.

Only 90 days remain until the final day of classes for Year 12. The whole College looks forward to seeing our new team of leaders emerge and carry on the fine work of the 2025 student leaders as they step up their preparations for the external exam period.

Wishing everyone a productive and successful term.

Mr Ben Devlin
Dean of Senior Years