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
New Temporary Restructure of Positive Futures
Due to current COVID restrictions and trying to limit mixing of year level groups we found ourselves at the start of the school year changing the structure of our Positive Futures groups. Both teachers and students found themselves getting to know each other and effectively starting the program again.
Our focus has been on getting to know you, organisation and setting goals for school and home.
This week in 7I the students created a planner that encompassed both study and extracurricular activities with ‘me’ time. Some of Year 11 classes combined to play games out on the oval, and the Year 10 students attended a presentation by the Pat Cronin Foundation.
As the weeks go on we will keep you updated on our lessons and any format changes.
Positive Futures Book Of The Week
A practical guide to untangling difficult relationships, letting go of resentment and ultimately leading a happier life.
No doubt you have experienced everyday resentment in your life: a sibling who appeared to be favoured by your parents; a partner who leaves you for another person; a neighbour who won't deal with their barking dog; a workmate who is promoted ahead of you ... the list goes on and on.
These everyday resentments can keep simmering away, robbing us of joy and wreaking havoc on our health, relationships and workplaces. But no matter how hard we try to let it go and be the 'bigger person', sometimes it's impossible to express gratitude toward someone who has wronged us.
Thousands of clinical studies have demonstrated the positive benefits of gratitude to our physical, emotional and social wellbeing, but according to award-winning gratitude educator Dr Kerry Howells, it's only when we experience the discomfort of not being able to find gratitude that a path opens for real growth and transformation.
Based on 25 years of ground-breaking research, Untangling You is the first book of its kind to discuss gratitude in terms of its conceptual opposite: resentment. Using practical strategies, tools and insights, this life-changing book will show you how to start to repair difficult relationships, improve your wellbeing, grow your resilience, and ultimately move from resentment towards deep gratitude to lead a happier and more fulfilling life.
Untangling You will help you on this journey, whether you are a leader, coach, parent, teacher, people manager, mentor, health professional, or just someone who wants to grow their character and self-efficacy.
Rebecca James
Student Engagement and Connection Learning Specialist