School Chaplain
Meet our School Chaplain Di Hill
Chaplains provide care to those within our school communities; students, staff and families by providing a listening ear, a caring word, connections between community members, referral to appropriate services, to engage in conversations about the meaning of life and seeks to address a person’s present needs within their unique circumstances, frameworks of meaning and spiritual expression.
School Hours: Tuesdays 8:30am–4:30pm and Fridays 8:30am–4:30pm
Contact:
Email: dhill@stpiusx.catholic.edu.au
Phone: 08 8266 9400
Or via: Leadership, Front desk, Teacher, Student or Casual visit
12 Ways the Chaplain Can Assist at School
- Support teaching staff in the busyness of their day.
e.g. be with children after playtimes who may be upset or have a grievance and to help in any way to assist.
- Support children with grief, loss, or family breakdown issues.
e.g. children may like to be supported as a family or individually
- Connecting children with others to aid in forming friendships.
e.g. small groups to encourage social awareness
- Organizing fun and interactive activities for small groups of children struggling with similar issues.
e.g. grief, emotional challenges, self-esteem, life skills and healthy eating focus.
- Provide one to one support with children feeling unsettled or disconnected.
Providing comfort for a child outside the busyness of the classroom where the teacher has many demands from other children. Sometimes non teaching staff are more approachable for some children.
- To avert future issues (especially those known to be ongoing or re occurring) by providing a weekly get-together for students to express themselves and talk generally.
This doesn’t need to be formalized, it allows the students to chatter, laugh and approach any issues (if there are any at this time) in a friendly manner.
- To build a relationship with child/children if a known future event may affect their wellbeing.
e.g. parents separating, one parent working away for short time, relocating etc.
- An opportunity for children to ‘just be listened to’, and the talk to be about anything of interest to them.
e.g. a very talkative or shy child may benefit from this.
- Special Events or activities involvement.
e.g. helping with class cooking, craft or other activity (this is a great opportunity for me to be visible and connect with the children)
- Providing a safe place/person for their need in the moment.
Sometimes children just need a few minutes out of their organized world so they can regather ready to join the class again with an uplifted spirit.
- The children participating in an activity with me ‘just for fun’ or as a reward.
This is a message for children to know the chaplain is available for not only support in times of need, but for the special or fun things that are going on in their lives as well.
- I am here to support you, the greater school community and the children. So please, if I can assist in any way I would be happy to do so.
Di Hill
School Chaplain