Integrity

“We are honest with ourselves & others. We follow school rules and values.” - Croydon Hills Primary School

This week I decided to dig into the CHPS value, ‘Integrity’. I have been thinking a lot this week about what it means, looks like, and how to have it, from small practices of integrity to a massive stamp of “Integrity” on someone’s character description. Personally, I have always thought of integrity as being truthful, considerate and dutiful always, despite whether or not anyone notices.

I remember hearing my first examples of integrity when I was in Elementary School (what they call Primary School in the US). The earliest example I can remember is someone finding money or an item of worth that someone else lost, and that person going out of their way to return the money to its rightful owner. I remember the teacher explaining that the person who found the money knew it would have been easy to keep it for themselves. I remember the teacher explaining that no one had to tell the person who found the money to return it to the owner. The person who found the money returned it because they understood the person who dropped it could miss it. They understood that returning it would be kind, honest, and make the person who lost it happy. They understood what it felt like to lose something, and they wanted to relive the agony of that feeling from whoever lost what they found. That has become my go-to image when I think ‘integrity’.

“We learned about honesty and integrity- that the truth matters… that you don’t take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules… and success doesn’t count unless you earn it fair and square.” – Michelle Obama

There are many ways we can show integrity at CHPS. During lockdown is an especially great time to demonstrate integrity. When we are in isolation, people are not watching what we do.

Are we completing our assignments? Are we thinking for ourselves in our work? Are we giving credit when we use another’s ideas? Are we taking care of ourselves?

During lockdown we might have less people in our lives checking up on these things. It is super-helpful to stay on the “right track” when we have someone we are accountable to. But it requires integrity to stay on the ‘right track’ when no one is watching.

“You are in integrity when the life you are living on the outside matches who you are on the inside” - Alan Cohen

We can also show integrity at CHPS when we do what we say we are going to do, and act how we would like others to act. Are you complaining about others, and then doing the same or similar things you were complaining about someone else doing? Are you following through with the things you said you would do? Are you prioritising commitments you made?

There are more things to think about when it comes to integrity, and it is up to you how much you would like to practise this trait. How much do you value this in others? Does it matche up with how much you are seeking to be a person that practises integrity? Remember we are only responsible for our own actions, but when we decide to own those actions and show integrity, we are inspiring others by example. Our students here at CHPS are looking up to their parents, staff and peers for examples of strong character, so if we as individuals decide to practice integrity, it will likely be reflected in the character of our students and become part of school culture.

Article: 5 Activities that help your children develop a strong sense of integrity

Article: Character for kids: What is integrity and why is it important?

Video: Build Character Build Success: Integrity

Phone directory and referral/triage services

For those struggling with any kind of mental health, we recently found these mental health directory sites/ numbers that can help you navigate getting help. Please check them!

https://supportconnect.org.au/ (Intake Team at EMPHN). T: 9800 1071

HeadtoHelp – Victoria wide and provided by the intake team at EMPHN. https://headtohelp.org.au/

supportconnect@emphn.org.au T: 9800 1071

Someone.health someone.health - Medicare Bulk Billed Online Psychologist Counselling Australia Schedule an appointment online: https://someone.health/ T: 1800 491 556

Talklink https://talklink.com.au/ Young people can request a text, if they don’t feel comfortable talking on the phone. https://talklink.com.au/ T: (03) 7064 9528

Cheyenne Mason, on behalf of the Wellbeing Team

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