Positive Futures News
What is the EDSC Positive Futures program?
Positive Education brings together the science of positive psychology with best-practice teaching.
The school’s journey with Positive Education began in 2012 with Positive Education focuses and values implemented across each year level and over time has evolved into the whole school approach launched in 2020.
Our Positive Futures program has some very clear goals:
- We want to improve student quality of life and their engagement with others, including with their teachers
- We seek to develop students in a more holistic way, with a stronger focus on wellbeing
There are six tenets of Positive Psychology that are embedded into our model:
Positive Health – Positive Self
Developing knowledge, understanding and skills to promote health and well – being.
Positive Relationships
Nurturing positive relationships based on respect.
Accomplishment
Generating hope and optimism through the accomplishment of personal and community goals
Positive Emotion
Building and experiencing positive emotion.
Meaning
Believing in serving something greater than ourselves.
Positive Engagement
Developing critical thinkers by promoting challenge, curiosity and creativity.
More resources and information can be found here:
https://www.eastdonsc.vic.edu.au/wellbeing-engagement-positive-futures
Term 1 2024
We have made a good start to the year with our new groups/teachers and new, engaging activities.
With only a few sessions left for the term, I thought it was a good time to provide an overview of each year level so far:
Year 12
Year 12s have been undertaking several sessions on approaches to study and being successful in VCE intertwined with sessions on Respect and Wellbeing. They will end the term with a year level dodgeball comp to enhance cohesiveness between the year group.
Year 11
Year 11 students have undertaken some sessions on study skills and expectations of entering their VCE. They have completed sessions on Respect of themselves, others, school and community and in their last session will participate in a Harmony Week session.
Year 10
Several of our Year 10 students facilitated their first Peer Support with our Year 7 students which was very successful. The program will continue for the remainder of the year with two sessions per term. The Year 10 cohort has also started preparation in Careers and Work Experience including updating CV’s and cover letters. As per the last few years, they also attended an incursion run by the Pat Cronin Foundation which warns of the dangers of the coward punch. This led into a session on Respect and will end with a Harmony Week session for the end of the term.
For those that would like to know more about the Pat Cronin Foundation – please go to the website.
https://patcroninfoundation.org.au/
Information about the coward punch
Year 9
Year 9 students have started to think about dreams and goals for their life and linking this to Character strengths. They will then use these character strengths to examine how they will be useful to them when applying for jobs or in various social situations. This has led to a session on Respect and their last session will be a Harmony Week activity.
Year 8
Year 8s focus has been to revisit some key sessions from last year such as organising yourself and creating ownership of their new Positive Futures room. They have also explored the key concepts of Gratitude, Respect and Social Connections to help build self-respect and relationships with others. They will end the term with a Harmony Day session.
Year 7
Year 7s have done a lot of getting to know you activities as a group as they settle into the new school environment. These activities focussed on setting up displays in their Positive Futures rooms, some organisation skills and locker checks as well as information sharing about Camp. They participated in their first Peer Support session with the Year 10’s about camp before they went in Week 5. They will finish off the term with sessions on Respect and a Harmony Week activity.
Harmony Week
All students will participate in a range of Harmony Week activities for their last session of Positive Futures. These will be different for each year level and will celebrate the rich diversity of our EDSC community.
Harmony Week runs from Monday 18th March to Sunday 24th March.
Harmony Week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds.
It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.
Positive Futures Book of the Week
Once Upon an Eid is a collection of short stories that showcases the most brilliant Muslim voices writing today, all about the most joyful holiday of the year: Eid!
Eid: The short, single-syllable word conjures up a variety of feelings and memories for Muslims. Maybe it’s waking up to the sound of frying samosas or the comfort of bean pie, maybe it’s the pleasure of putting on a new outfit for Eid prayers, or maybe it’s the gift-giving and holiday parties to come that day. Whatever it may be, for those who cherish this day of celebration, the emotional responses may be summed up in another short and sweet word: joy. The anthology will also include a poem, graphic-novel chapter, and spot illustrations.
The full list of Once Upon an Eid contributors include: G. Willow Wilson (Alif the Unseen, Ms. Marvel), Hena Khan (Amina's Voice, Under My Hijab), N. H. Senzai (Shooting Kabul, Escape from Aleppo), Hanna Alkaf (The Weight of Our Sky), Rukhsana Khan (Big Red Lollipop), Randa Abdel-Fattah (Does My Head Look Big in This?), Ashley Franklin (Not Quite Snow White), Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow (Mommy's Khimar), Candice Montgomery (Home and Away, By Any Means Necessary), Huda Al-Marashi (First Comes Marriage), Ayesha Mattu, Asmaa Hussein, and Sara Alfageeh.
Rebecca James
Student Engagement & Connection
Learning Specialist