Written by Binu Thomas (Woodstock School)
As part of the institutional learning exchange through our GAIL Partner School, I had the opportunity to visit Scotch College in Adelaide in 2023 September. This visit gave me an incredible chance to gain firsthand insights into their innovative approach to wellbeing. The experience profoundly shaped my vision for enhancing wellbeing at Woodstock School and ultimately inspired me to organize a conference to share these insights, with the goal of fostering flourishing schools in India.
Scotch College’s holistic approach to wellbeing, with dedicated facilities and resources for student wellbeing, demonstrated the tangible benefits of creating spaces that prioritize both mental and physical health. This visit underscored the importance of embedding wellbeing into the everyday vocabulary and practices of schools. I am deeply grateful to Shawn and David Albano for including me in the PESA conference, where I witnessed the depth of wellbeing initiatives in Australian schools. It also initiated invaluable conversations with David Bott from The Wellbeing Distillery, which helped me envision strategies and a whole-school approach to wellbeing that could be adapted to the Indian context.
The trip also opened doors to valuable networks and provided practical strategies, many of which we have already started implementing at Woodstock. As a school located in the picturesque Lower Himalayas, with a strong Christian heritage and a focus on holistic development, I began to reflect on how we could introduce this concept to other Indian schools and neighboring countries. This reflection led to the idea of hosting India’s first International Wellbeing Conference – Pathways to Flourish at Woodstock School.
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As the Chair of the International Wellbeing Conference 2024, I can confidently say that the event was nothing short of magical. Hosted at Woodstock School, Mussoorie, this gathering of over 220 delegates from 17 Indian states and 77 schools, along with numerous international participants, brought together passionate individuals with a shared goal: to redefine the role of wellbeing in education and create flourishing school environments.
This conference, aptly titled Pathways to Flourish, was the first of its kind in India. From the very beginning, our mission was to foster meaningful conversations around the multidimensional aspects of wellbeing—not just for students, but for all stakeholders involved: teachers, staff, parents, and administrators. It was an honor to see this vision come to life in such a powerful and impactful way.
Our keynote speaker, Mr. David Bott, co-founder of The Wellbeing Distillery and a global expert in Positive Education, set the perfect tone for the event. His inspiring address highlighted the key elements of creating a flourishing school environment, emphasizing emotional and relational intelligence and the power of brain breaks—concepts that are sure to resonate in classrooms and staffrooms across India.
The sessions, led by experts such as Dr. Putulemla on the vital connection between physical health and mental wellbeing, Dr. Kate Barbat on “flow” as a pathway to academic and personal success, Dr. Aneesh Varrier on the need for positive ecosystems in schools, and Mr. Manoj Abraham on the importance of digital safety in today’s world, sparked new thinking and prompted conversations that will undoubtedly continue for years to come.
What truly made this conference special, however, were not just the presentations but the people. It was heartening to witness so many like-minded professionals come together, engaging deeply with the subject of wellbeing and supporting one another in our shared mission. The active participation of our Wellbeing Ambassadors—students trained specifically for this role—filled me with immense pride and reaffirmed my belief that students can be the driving force behind creating a flourishing school culture. The magic of these two days was also found in the personal stories shared, such as Craig Cook’s heartfelt account of the student-teacher bond that shaped his educational journey. These moments of vulnerability and reflection made the conference not just a professional event, but a personal experience that touched everyone involved.
As the conference drew to a close, I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment—not just for Woodstock School, but for the future of wellbeing in education across India. The conversations, collaborations, and connections formed over these two days have laid the foundation for a flourishing network of schools committed to wellbeing across the subcontinent and beyond. With delegates from neighboring countries also in attendance, I am confident that this is just the beginning of a larger movement.
Seeing Woodstock School take a leadership role in this important conversation fills me with pride. We are not just addressing wellbeing—we are shaping the future of education by making wellbeing a cornerstone of schools across the Indian subcontinent. The ripple effects of this movement will be felt throughout Asia and beyond.
The positive energy and feedback generated over these two days have been overwhelming, and I am excited for what lies ahead. As we move forward, I am confident that the ideas, strategies, and partnerships formed at this conference will have a lasting impact—empowering schools to flourish, students to thrive, and educators to lead with empathy and purpose.
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A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to making this conference an unforgettable experience—from the initial discussions with Ady Manral, our GAIL Champion, about my visit to Scotch College, to our Principal, Dr. Craig Cook, the counselling team at Woodstock and the entire Scotch College team: Principal Trent Driver, David Albano, Shawn Kasbergen, Emma Grave and many others who welcomed me wholeheartedly and provided the opportunity to deeply explore their wellbeing initiatives. This collaboration paved the way for the success of the conference. Together, as GAIL partner schools, we will continue to champion the cause of wellbeing in education, ensuring that every child, teacher, and community can truly flourish.
From my experience, GAIL partner schools hold immense potential for knowledge exchange and fostering a collaborative environment. The opportunity to share ideas and best practices across schools, as I’ve seen through my visit to Scotch College, is invaluable. Through these exchanges, we not only learn from each other’s strengths but also adapt innovative approaches that can transform our own educational practices. This collaboration empowers us to continuously grow and evolve, ensuring that our students and educators benefit from the shared wisdom and experience of the entire network. GAIL schools, in my experience, are a powerful force for driving positive change in education.