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
11G Community Action Project - Student Report
For our Community Action Project, 11G decided to give thanks to the heroic members of our local ambulance stations. On Tuesday October 25, six members from two local stations came to EDSC, where we gifted them boxes of Krispy Kreme donuts to express our gratitude for the help they provide to those among us who need it.
They discussed with us the highlights of their occupation, as well as what inspired them to choose that career path. It was a valuable opportunity to be able to hear stories and advice from heroes of our community, as well as give back for the service they provide.
Written by Lucas, Trenton, and Marina
9B Positive Impact Project
9B Positive Futures undertook painting the tree near the footpath down to 530 block “Blue”, as their positive impact project.
The Blue Tree Project and its focus on mental health resonated with these Year 9s. They spent last week's Positive Future class, during a break in the wet weather, “carefully” painting the dead tree a vibrant blue. There was and has been a lot of interest in viewing the tree during and since the painting of it.
The Blue Tree Project is a Not-for-profit organisation which aims to help spark difficult conversations and encourage people to speak up when battling mental health concerns.
One of the core initiatives behind The Blue Tree Project is to paint a dead tree that needs a ‘blue lease on life". By spreading the paint and spreading the message that “it’s ok to not be ok,” we can help create a mentally healthy future for all Australians and break down the stigma that’s still largely attached to mental health.
We recognise that prevention is better than cure and are passionate about increasing mental health awareness throughout our community to encourage others to speak up and decrease the devastating side effects of mental illness.
There is signage on the tree, which will be replaced with a more permanent plaque, promoting the message “It’s OK not to be OK”. We’d encourage community members who are interested or struggling with mental health to check out the website https://www.bluetreeproject.com.au/ which contains the story behind the Blue trees and links to the many support services. The EDSC Wellbeing Centre is also available and a great place to start a conversation.
A big thanks goes out to Wattyl Paint in Eltham who donated the paint and have been supporting this important cause around Australia. They even now stock the colour as Blue Tree blue.
Kim Schwarz
Year 7 Coordinator