Leading Teachers
Introducing Libby Tobin's new role at WPS - Mental Health in Primary School's (Gov initiative)
Our next learning topic in SEL is…Personal and Cultural Strengths
Everyone is developing their understanding of their own unique strengths, what they mean, when to use them and how to keep them in the forefront of our minds.
Year Prep and 1/2
In the lower year levels, students will identify and describe their personal and cultural strengths. Choosing words from a wordbank or coming up with their own, they will begin to develop a deeper understanding of who they are. Through a range of engaging activities they will explain how these strengths contribute to family and school life. Highlighting how we can draw on our strengths to help us through different situations - whether they are fun, new or challenging. We will also explore ways to care for others, including ways of making and keeping friends. It’s a rich topic that will encourage students to self-reflect and add their unique strengths to their ‘toolkit’, ready to use whenever they need them.
Year 3, 4 and 5/6
In the upper year levels, students will describe their personal and cultural strengths in more detail, working towards identifying the strengths they can use to respond to challenges and opportunities in their everyday lives. Through engaging activities they will be able to describe factors that contribute to positive relationships with others, and identify communication skills that enhance relationships. These are skills they will continue to develop throughout their life - how exciting that they are creating the building blocks now! Linking in with our school values, we will also look at respectful and cooperative behaviours in group activities. Particularly, the ways they can encourage peers to treat others with respect, regardless of their differences. Lastly, they will begin to monitor and assess their awareness of their personal and cultural strengths and when to draw on them.
We look forward to hearing about how wonderful each and every one of the students are. (We know it already, but it will be nice to hear their own reflections in this space).
Cheers,