The goal of student welfare at Janakkala Upper Secondary School is to improve the study environment and well-being, as well as the early identification and intervention of learning difficulties and other issues. Students’ participation is supported in promoting the well-being of their work community. Student welfare is an important part of upper secondary school activities, it is for everyone working in the upper secondary school community and responsible for student welfare services. Our school’s social worker, psychologist, and health care services are provided by the professionals of OmaHäme. Link to the OmaHäme student welfare pages (in Finnish).

You can find the plans related to Janakkala Upper Secondary School’s student welfare on the Plans subpage.

Employees of Janakkala Upper Secondary School’s student welfare can be easily reached through Wilma.

School Nurse

The school health nurse participates in promoting the well-being and health of the entire school community. They supervise and promote the healthiness and safety of the working conditions and school work. In individual student welfare, the school health nurse monitors, assesses, and promotes the student’s well-being and health. The nurse also participates in identifying and addressing issues related to learning, emotions, and behavior in collaboration with other student welfare and teaching staff. The upper secondary school nurse at the Turenki location is Emma Laakso, and at the Tervakoski location, it is Elina Partanen.

Social Worker

The services of the school social worker are free and confidential. The aim of school social work is to support students’ mental and social well-being, prevent problems, and ensure the conditions for school attendance. You can turn to the social worker for issues related to behavior, social relationships, problems in the student’s family, emotional and mental health issues. The upper secondary school social worker in Tervakoski is Reija Sailio and in Turenki, it is Ilmari Kantola.

Psychologist

The task of the student welfare psychologist is to support the mental well-being of young people. You can seek an appointment with the psychologist when you feel you need support for your well-being. Reasons may include challenges in coping, growth-related challenges, stress management challenges, anxiety, tension, loneliness, or depression. The student welfare psychologist at the Turenki location is Sanna Kelloniemi. Sanna is available in Turenki on Mondays and Wednesdays. The psychologist at the Tervakoski location is Milla Wessman. A student, guardian, or school employee can contact the psychologist with the permission of the student/guardian.

Special Education

The purpose of special education in upper secondary school is to support students with various learning challenges. The special education teacher is a part of student welfare and collaborates with the student, teachers, guardians, and other necessary parties. Students can be supported through individual instruction, group courses/study modules, reading tests, and various collaborative efforts. The aim is to assist students with study techniques, reading and writing strategies, and other supportive actions. Students are encouraged to discuss their concerns openly, and the special education teacher is a good resource for this purpose.

At the beginning of their studies, students complete a reading screening, a mathematical skills assessment, and an initial survey. The reading screening identifies potential challenges in reading and writing. Based on the results, some students may be offered an opportunity for a reading course/study module, which serves as one of the support measures. If needed, an individual follow-up test will be arranged for the student, based on which potential reading difficulties and their severity will be assessed. The purpose of the initial survey is to gather information about the student’s own experience as a learner and to identify concerns, challenges, and strengths. Based on the results of the mathematical skills assessment, necessary support measures will be planned for the first periods of upper secondary school to support mathematics learning, for example, in a math workshop. The special education teachers for the academic year 2024-2025 are Kaisa Sihvonen, Juha Kinnunen (Turenki), and Jukka Mylly (Tervakoski).

Guidance Counselling

The purpose of guidance counselling at Janakkala Upper Secondary School is to support the student’s progress in upper secondary school studies and the completion of the upper secondary school syllabus and matriculation examination, to develop the student’s knowledge and skills to consider and make decisions regarding further studies, professional careers, and life paths, and to provide the student with elements for developing self-awareness. For the academic year 2024-2025, the guidance counselors are Rita Kannisto and Kaisa Sihvonen.

Remedial Teaching

Students can receive remedial teaching from subject teachers. Remedial teaching is primarily provided in languages and mathematics. The teacher will arrange remedial teaching with the student. Remedial teaching is usually held outside of regular class hours.

Cooperation Between Home and School

The group supervisor is an important person in the student’s daily life and a key figure in the cooperation between home and school.

Targeted parent-teacher meetings are held for guardians in each year group, during which, in collaboration with the teaching staff and student body, various issues related to school, the academic year, and the specific year group are discussed. The parent-teacher meeting for the first-year students is held during the first period. The parent-teacher meeting for the third-year students takes place in November, and for the second-year students in April.

Guardians have the opportunity to monitor the student’s academic performance and progress in studies through Wilma. Wilma serves as a key communication tool between home and school. Important and current announcements (e.g., weekly announcements) are published in Wilma. Additionally, the school’s official Facebook page shares information related to studies and upper secondary education.

The school’s website contains extensive information related to Janakkala Upper Secondary School, upper secondary school studies, and student life.