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

Positive Futures – Cohort Based for the remainder of the year

Throughout the term we have been talking with a range of staff and student focus groups about the Positive Futures program. We have received some fantastic and constructive feedback and as a result we will be continuing Positive Futures in year groups for the remainder of the year. 

Reflection On Term 2

Students have participated in a number of different activities this term, particularly the devising of a community action project that may be raising money for a charity, beautifying a part of school or any type of project the group decides.

We spoke about the importance of diet and sleep on our mental health but also in the lead up to important assessments and exams. Some classes conducted Mindfulness and Meditation activities. 

We also acknowledged IDAHOBIT Day in Positive Futures classes with the PRIDE Club running some great lunchtime activities. 

Term 3

Groups will be continuing with their community action projects and hopefully we will see all the wonderful activities they have planned. 

In the lead up to Respectful Relationships Week we will be undertaking activities focused on respect of ourselves and others. 

Towards the end of the term we will be focusing on accomplishment and legacy at EDSC. 

So exciting times ahead for our program!!!

Positive Futures Book of the Week

Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed "America's Fattest Teen." But no one's taken the time to look past her weight to get to know who she really is. Following her mom's death, she's been picking up the pieces in the privacy of her home, dealing with her heartbroken father and her own grief. Now, Libby's ready: for high school, for new friends, for love, and for every possibility life has to offer. In that moment, I know the part I want to play here at MVB High. I want to be the girl who can do anything. 

Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin, too. Yes, he's got swagger, but he's also mastered the impossible art of giving people what they want, of fitting in. What no one knows is that Jack has a newly acquired secret: he can't recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him. He's the guy who can re-engineer and rebuild anything, but he can't understand what's going on with the inner workings of his brain. So he tells himself to play it cool: Be charming. Be hilarious. Don't get too close to anyone.

Until he meets Libby. When the two get tangled up in a cruel high school game—which lands them in group counseling and community service—Libby and Jack are both mad and then surprised. The more time they spend together, the less alone they feel. Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world, theirs and yours.

Rebecca James

Student Engagement and Connection Learning Specialist