Middle Years
Middle Years News
Last week in one of my Year 10 Wellbeing classes, a student asked “What is a positive mindset?” I immediately began to talk about positive emotions, and referred to the ten positive emotions that were identified by Barbara Fredrickson in her book Positivity. This term, our Year 7 students will be spending time in Wellbeing classes looking at these core positive emotions.
Fredrickson said we need to try and look for positivity each day, moment by moment. It is possible to develop a positive mindset, by concentrating more on positive emotions rather than dwelling on negative and neutral emotions. Positivity opens our minds, expands our thinking and allows us to be more creative. The more we look for positives, the more we see them.
Here are the ten positive emotions identified by Barbara Fredrickson;
Joy: it feels light and bright, there is spring in your step, it is playful.
Gratitude comes when you appreciate something, it opens our hearts and urges us to give something back in return.
Serenity- It is low key more than joy makes you sit back and soak it in, the statement is "I want to do this more often" is often associated with serenity.
Interest- when you are interested you are open and alive, your horizons expand.
Hope- hope comes into play when things are not going well for you. Hope arises precisely within those moments of despair. Hope sustains and motivates you.
Pride- pride has a mixed reputation. Pride blooms in the wake of achievement. You invested your
Effort and skills and succeeded.
Amusement- is social, an element of surprise. Amusement is not serious and shares joviality with others.it is safe and light hearted.
Inspiration- it goes beyond the ordinary and brings you out of yourself. Inspiration recognise exceptional human endeavour.
Awe- happens when you come across goodness on a grand scale. You feel overwhelmed with greatness and you feel small and humble. Makes you stop in your tracks and you are momentarily transfixed.
Love- is the most significant positive emotion. When good feeling stir our hearts within a safe and close relationship. Love involves putting the other person’s growth ahead of yourself.
I would encourage our students to start their day with heartfelt appreciation, and ask ‘What is going right for me?” “What is treasured in my life?” and “What can I celebrate?”. Thank you to the student who asked the question “What is a positive mindset?”. Developing a positive mindset takes time and effort, and will enable our students to flourish in their teenage and adult lives.
Gaoyou Middle School Delegation
Special thanks to our Year 9 and Year 8 host families. The staff and students from Gaoyou Middle School arrived on Wednesday directly from Shanghai. We have hosted them at school for two days immersing students in a range of ‘Australian’ experiences. This weekend the Gaoyou students are with their host families, and the Gaoyou staff are being entertained by College staff. Host families are changing over on either Friday night or Saturday morning at 9am at the Boarding House. On Tuesday 8th August, the Gaoyou students need to bring their suitcases to school as they will be departing mid morning.
MYPEC News
The oval is out of bounds until further notice, due to the muddy conditions and rough play on the oval. We expect students to be fair and considerate when they play and rough behaviour will not be tolerated. It is interesting to note that our students have played harmoniously side by side, and this is the expected norm. Students who push the boundaries will be removed from lunchtime activities, until they demonstrate they can get play appropriately with their peers.
Students are encouraged to use the Hockey Field and the Sports Centre during the winter months. They need to bring some clean sneakers to change into to use these facilities.
Mrs Julia Winter Cooke
Head of Middle Years