Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator

Relationship based Education (RbE) – Forgiveness

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” Mahatma Gandhi

Dear Families,

As you know, John Hendry OAM has been working with us this year with Relationship based Education (RbE). He talks about the five key elements of a relationship: trust, forgiveness, integrity, hope, and compassion. John’s work has the full endorsement of Parents Victoria. On the Parents Victoria website, there is some great information about John’s work with us here at OGPS. Click here to find out more.

Forgiveness simply means that you “give-for” the relationship to continue to grow. When trust is tested, forgiveness enables trust to be regained with respect and dignity. Forgiveness expresses unconditional faith in the other person. It re-establishes trust when it is threatened. Giving for others and ourselves enables growth.

John Hendry OAM

Forgiveness is such another important part of a relationship. As humans, we all make mistakes and the ability to forgive others who make them, helps us to rebuild the relationship. Forgiveness helps us to move forward when mistakes are made. Here are a few fun ideas you might like to do at home to help foster the skill of forgiveness.

• Draw a picture of what forgiveness means. 
• Can you think of an animal that is forgiving? Why did you choose this animal?
• Talk about when a friend made a mistake, and how you forgave them.
• Google some images of ‘forgive’ and talk about each of the images and what they mean to you.
• As a family, make a simple definition of forgiveness that everyone understands. 

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” Lewis B. Smedes.

John Hendry will be running a free parent session in person at our school this term in four weeks. Please put the date into your calendar…

Tuesday 9th August at 7.30pm.

Bookings will be open next week via the newsletter.

Reach Foundation Workshop – Year Five Students

Late last term, the Reach Foundation ran four workshops with our Year Five students. The focus was on building connections with peers. The workshop ‘encouraged lateral thinking and celebrated differences among classmates’, and ‘challenged students to explore limiting beliefs and behaviours.’ I was amazed at how our students spoke openly about their experiences and challenges they had faced in their lives. They showed vulnerability and trust within their groups. One of the workshop facilitators commented, “These are the most emotionally intelligent kids we have worked with.”  This was such a wonderful comment for me to hear with all the work that we are doing in the wellbeing area. One year five student said, “I really liked the workshop because everyone got to express their feelings, and there was a feeling of trust in the group”. 

I would like to thank Juliette and Susan for organising these workshops. We really appreciate all your support for all our OGPS kids. 

Andy McNeilly

Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator