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Homestead, A Place to Belong

Homesteads are a home-away-from-home at school. A place where students are well-known to each other, valued and involved.

Woodleigh places great emphasis on the care and development of all its students. Pastoral care is the responsibility of all teachers, but it finds a special focus in the Homestead program. The focus of Homestead life is Pastoral Care; that is, knowing and helping each of its members. Central to Homestead is the notion of it being a ‘home’ where students belong, feel accepted and appreciated. Like a home it is responsible for the nurturing and growth of each of its members.

Homesteads operate at Year 5/6 level at the junior campuses, Penbank and Minimbah, and at all year levels at Senior Campus.

At the Senior Campus, pastoral care is the concern of all teachers, but it finds a special focus in the Homestead program. The focus of Homestead life is Pastoral Care; that is, knowing and helping each of its members.

Homesteads are where students store their books, socialise at break times, play games and listen to music. A Homestead consists of four groups of between 16 – 18 students each from Years 7, 8, 9 and 10. Each group has a Tutor Teacher who is their main pastoral carer. Each Homestead has a Homestead Coordinator.

Homestead is also an area which develops a sense of community. The members of this community are responsible for their environment. Students contribute ideas towards improving their environment and then are encouraged to do work associated with this. Gardening and cleaning are part of the students’ responsibility.