Academics
Student Services
JAHM
The Jacqueline Angus
Healthy Minds and Well-Being Programme
Healthy Minds, Healthy Futures
At Trafalgar, we know that a thriving mind is at the heart of a thriving student. High school brings new responsibilities, exciting challenges, and plenty of opportunities to grow — but it also comes with the pressures of staying organized, meeting deadlines, and navigating big emotions. That’s why we’re committed to supporting the whole student: academically, socially, and emotionally.
From dedicated courses like JAHM for our junior students to community-wide initiatives like Education for Sustainability, our approach blends practical skills with personal growth. We want every Trafalgar student to feel confident, capable, and ready to make a positive difference in the world.
JAHM
Starting high school can feel like stepping into a whole new world. At Trafalgar, we believe students deserve the best possible start, so we created JAHM Sessions — a unique, dynamic two-year course just for our Junior School.
Born from the understanding that study skills and executive functioning need to be taught and practiced in authentic ways, JAHM blends practical academic tools with personal wellness strategies. Students learn time and resource management, note-taking and test-taking skills, and how to stay on top of their tasks. In alternating years, the focus shifts to emotional regulation, interpersonal communication, and personal goal-setting.
Our school counsellor spearheads this initiative with the support of our Middle School Director and dedicated learning specialists. Together, they ensure that JAHM is responsive to student needs, rooted in best practices, and delivered in ways that resonate with adolescents.
Adolescence is a pivotal stage of development — and with JAHM, our juniors aren’t just getting ready for their next test; they’re building the mindset and skillset to succeed in life.
Program highlights
- study skills
- emotional regulation
- communication skills
- goal setting
EXISTING SUPPORT MODEL
Our program is an integrated approach through which we guide students along their journey towards developing a healthy mind and overall wellbeing. It is a student-centered approach in which the whole child is surrounded and supported by the school: teachers, paraprofessional and support staff, their families and external partners including medical care, therapists and community organizations. The foundation of this program is built upon an inextricable partnership between academic and social-emotional support that leads to overall success and individual flourishing. In addition to the integrated approach with our external partners, the framework creates a tiered, systemic approach through which we follow our students' journey. It is a proactive and preventative process that aims to support all students within an inclusive model, by addressing mental health and learning challenges through early intervention. When implemented with fidelity, we utilize resources more efficiently targeting early intervention, alleviating the need for more costly and time-intensive secondary levels of support.
This model is cyclical and fluid, as students move through tiers of support depending on their changing needs. Strong, open communication between the school, the student, the parents and community partnerships are critical to the success of this program. While our approach is student-centered, the students are not passive recipients of support, but rather empowered advocates for their own health and wellbeing. They are givers, providing support to peers and family, sharing learned strategies, as developing leaders within their community.
A Legacy of Support — The Honourable W. David Angus
The JAHM program would not be the exceptional resource it is today without the remarkable generosity of The Honourable W. David Angus. His steadfast commitment to Trafalgar and belief in the power of education have been instrumental in shaping this program into a cornerstone of our Junior School experience.
Through his vision and support, generations of Trafalgar students are gaining not only academic skills, but also the confidence, resilience, and empathy to navigate life’s challenges. His contributions ensure that our mission — to nurture both the minds and the well-being of our students — is lived out every day in meaningful, lasting ways.
Trafalgar extends its deepest gratitude to Mr. Angus for his dedication, leadership, and unwavering belief in our students’ potential. His legacy will continue to inspire our community for years to come.
Education for Sustainability (EfS)
Trafalgar is enriched by its history and traditions, but we are equally focused on building a better future. Sustainability education is not an add-on — it’s an integral part of our curriculum, woven into subjects from language arts to science. Our goal is to inspire students to see the interconnectedness of the world and to use their learning to contribute to environmental, social, and economic balance.
Through Etuaptmumk, or Two-Eyed Seeing, our Language Arts students explore how diverse perspectives and storytelling can encourage global stewardship. They connect literature to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, learning to think critically about the challenges our world faces and the role they can play in shaping solutions.
Sustainability at Trafalgar also comes alive beyond the classroom:
- Gardening Club — With support from Learning for a Sustainable Future, students created a pollinator-friendly garden of indigenous plants, installed rain barrels to reduce water waste, and are working toward building a greenhouse.
- Spanish Language Studies — Students research sustainable tourism in the Spanish-speaking world, learning how creative, culturally informed solutions can address real-world challenges.
FUTURE DIRECTIONS AND INNOVATION
An increasing need for a unified system of support requires strengthening the support systems around the student to include families, school faculty and community partnerships. The model builds upon the existing tiered support model for students to include the same structure for families, from proactive education and workshops to intensive support for those with children in crisis. Given their crucial role in educating and supporting students, teachers require tiered support based on their specific needs, levels of expertise, and needs of the students. Finally, this program aims to bridge the gaps between healthcare and mental health institutions and school professionals, to seamlessly integrate care between partners. Ultimately, by strengthening the surrounding support systems, The Jacqueline Angus Healthy Minds program will provide a more unified, collaborative, and robust support system for the child.
ACTION ITEMS
- Tiered support model for staff and faculty in addressing the needs of the students in the classroom
- Tiered support model for families reflecting the needs of their children
- Empower families with an actionable framework of care, personalized resources, and the tools they need to support their children
- Diverse partnerships with community organizations ranging from student education workshops to intensive care teams for students in crisis
KEY TOPICS
- Proactive Care: Mental Health First Aid for teachers, students and families
- Diversity Equity and Inclusion
- LGBTQ+ - Support for students who are struggling with Gender ID
- Insight into Neurodiversity and identity
The Honourable W. David Angus
My personal commitment to support healthy minds and emotional well-being amongst adolescent females is one that will always have my full attention. I am delighted to support the launch of The Jacqueline Angus Healthy Minds and Well-Being Programme at Trafalgar School for Girls. My principal goal is to help Trafalgar be at the forefront of sustaining emotional stability and well-being amongst its students. This, in turn, will create an integrated model for developing and sustaining healthy minds and positive outlooks during this critical formative period of their life experience. I do this in loving memory of my dear daughter Jacqueline as she adored Traf and was very happy and focused whilst a student in this caring and creative learning environment. I am sure she would be very proud to know that Traf is today very much committed to the belief that students' healthy minds and emotional well-being are very key underlying elements of a positive and constructive educational experience.
HELP US SUPPORT HEALTHY MINDS
Trafalgar School for Girls
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