From the Executive

An Expression of Gratitude

Building on the comments in my newsletter article in May, I would like to continue the conversation on wellbeing. The previous article was written during our first lockdown and focused on ways of maintaining mental fitness during the pandemic. This included practising our Character Strengths and recognising the strengths of our colleagues.

We now find ourselves in our second lockdown. With staff working both remotely and face-to-face, the need for flexibility has increased and the challenges have intensified. During our previous lockdown, the Staff Wellbeing Committee ran a Strengths Spotting challenge. This approach was based on the VIA Character Strengths and Professor Lea Water’s SEARCH model underpinning Visible Wellbeing, first introduced to staff during a professional learning day in December, 2019. As previously announced by our Principal, Mr Tony Coghlan, we are fortunate to have cemented an ongoing relationship with Professor Waters, adopting a College-wide approach to making wellbeing visible, through our Visible Wellbeing programme.

Gratitude is one such Character Strength. It can be defined as noticing and appreciating the good things in our lives. Professor Waters suggests that showing gratitude during the Coronavirus pandemic can raise our levels of optimism and lower our levels of stress and depression. Her advice is based on years of research. For further details, you are encouraged to listen to her 3-minute video on Expressing Gratitude during the Coronavirus. https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2020/mar/27/expressing-gratitude-during-the-coronavirus-crisis-video

What does this mean for College staff? Formalising this partnership enables us all to speak the same common language for wellbeing and support each other during the process. The introduction of a digital staff newsletter during the second lockdown period aims to focus on the Character Strengths of Humour, Zest and Gratitude.

In concluding, it is timely to implement the advice of Professor Waters by reflecting on the previous week and expressing Gratitude to those who brought joy into our lives.

Fr Sherman, for individually greeting each person upon arrival to the College. Along with fellow Oblates Fr Kevin and Fr Giancarlo, he reminds us that we all belong to the De Mazenod family.
Our fellow staff members and their families for their generosity in making masks for their colleagues. The mask fairies visited my desk three times during the week!
Our on-campus students for bringing a positive attitude and masks to their morning temperature checks.
Our remote students, supported by their parents, for adapting to their new environment.
Our teachers and Learning Support Officers providing a sense of normality through connection to their students.
Our graduate teachers and new staff members for bringing enthusiasm and new ideas to an unprecedented learning environment. Sharing the evening meal with them during remote Parent-Teacher interviews was a real highlight.
Our Education Support staff, keeping us safe and enabling the school to continue functioning, often in circumstances that are personally challenging.
The College leadership team for remaining positive and sharing their humour each morning during temperature checks.
Our parents for showing their appreciation and empathy during the parent-teacher interviews.
Essendon football club, for their narrow win against Adelaide.
My husband and sons, for greeting me with a smile each evening when I return home.

By expressing gratitude, we put things into perspective, shifting our attention away from the fears and uncertainty associated with the virus. You are all encouraged to share this approach with your families and our Mazenod staff.

Mrs Joanne Noone

Dean of Staff -

Welfare, Appraisal & Mentoring