There are coordinators for Year 7 and Year 11 transition. They are responsible for the wellbeing of new students and ensure they settle into the school. They assist students with their curriculum and the organisational procedures.
STHS has enjoyed a long association with the Peer Support Foundation of Australia. Towards the end of each year, every student in Year 9 completes the peer support training course – an intensive two-day program that provides explicit lessons in leadership, emotional intelligence, resilience, and the role of respectful relationships. The training gives many of our boys the opportunity to be selected as Peer Leaders in Year 10. The primary purpose of Peer Leaders is to assist with the successful transition of new Year 7 students to high school. Starting at high school can be a challenging stage in any young person’s life. New buildings, procedures, subjects, transport routes and routines mean that having an experienced and empathetic role model from Year 10 gives our Year 7 students a supportive and connected transition experience through a symbiotic relationship. It also gives our mentors an important opportunity to demonstrate leadership skills.
Peer Support
Peer Support at Sydney Technical High School consists of a series of organised peer-led sessions which commence on Year 6 Orientation Day and continue the following year during Terms 1, 2 and 3 during Welfare Assembly time.
The program is targeted towards Year 7 students and is led by a selected group of trained Year 10 leaders who facilitate six small-group sessions under the supervision of teachers. Each 1-hour session is designed to help integrate our incoming Year 7 students into high school life as well as improve their mental, social, and emotional wellbeing.
In 2024, we are using a brand-new module by Peer Support Australia, which we trialled as one of only seven schools in Australia to do so. We are using the module ‘Best Version of Me’ which focuses on values, integrity, inclusion and influence.
Transition Program
The Transition program at Sydney Technical High school allows for a smooth transition for our incoming year 7 students as they transition from Primary into High School.
The program is run by year 7 teachers for the first day of the school year, followed by the Peer Support Program during Terms 1 to 3. The topics covered in the 1-day Transition Program include an overview of school rules, procedures, planner use, prioritising, teacher contacts and their location within the school, navigating the school (a mini tour or hunt), transport to school, overview of the careers program, and finally, some mindfulness activities, icebreaker games and a fun trivia quiz to end the day.
Additionally, all new students (8-11) are afforded a similar mentor/mentee program that serves to develop and foster our school culture, values and protocols. It is an on-going relationship that is facilitated and overseen by a transition coordinator through regular formal and informal meetings. This then continues into our Year 12 mentor program.