Middle Years 

Gratitude

Gratitude is an awareness of and thankfulness for the good things in one’s life. Grateful individuals take time to express thanks and contemplate all that they have been given in life. This strength is a mindset of appreciation and goodwill for the benefits derived from other people.

Barbara Fredrickson says that gratitude is one of the top 10 positive emotions. Gratitude comes when we appreciate something that has come out way as a gift to be treasured, it opens our hearts and urges us to give back to do something good in return.

Gratitude interventions have been shown to significantly improve people’s levels of wellbeing and reduce levels of depression (Peterson & Seligman, 2004).  Students with higher levels of wellbeing feel better, think better and learn better.

Ways to develop Gratitude include:

• Counting three of your blessings (good things that happened to you) before going to bed every day.
• Every day, selecting one small yet important thing that you take for granted.
• Noticing how many times you say thanks and whether you mean it every time.
• Expressing gratitude by leaving a note for someone who has helped you.
• Expressing thanks by saying “I appreciate your advice”.

Announcing the myPEC Captains 2020

It gives me great pleasure to announce the 2020 myPEC House Captains. I would like to express my thanks to all students who applied for these leadership roles who made for a hard decision. Students were interviewed with their Head of House, and the calibre of our conversations was extraordinary. I agree with the philosophy that you don’t need a badge to lead, and I hope all the Year 8 students who applied show leadership throughout the year in myPEC.

Young House 

Zoe Kennedy

Fergus Peddie

Learmonth House

Olivia Handbury

Jake Tonissen

Laidlaw House

Eli Hunter

Lily Cush

Berry House

Sarah Richardson

George Austin

We encourage all Mentors to contact you and introduce themselves. Can you let me know if House Mentors have not been in contact, as I would like to follow this up with your child’s Mentor.

Julia Winter Cooke

Head of Middle Years