RAVENSWOOD
|
SEMPER – Bi -annua l magaz i ne of the Ravenswood commun i ty
10
Students in Years 7-8 participated in the third annual international
Character Day
on 22 September to highlight the importance of
character for a life well lived.
Character Day
was begun by Emmy-
nominated filmmaker, Tiffany Shlain as a way to make the theory
of character strengths real in young people’s lives. Ravenswood
students were grouped according to their character category
(wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance or transcendence)
and asked to devise a skit or song to reflect their personal strengths.
‘
Character Day
has enormous potential and we hope to increase
our involvement as the years progress, as a way to further our
students’ understanding of this important Positive Education theory,’
said Director of Positive Education and Wellbeing, Kim Bence.
OTHER PEOPLE MATTER
OF GOOD CHARACTER
Human happiness is measured not by our possessions but by our relationships.
Each student crafted their own ‘strengths shield’ as a way to
think about their strengths and how to apply them, as well as
the strengths of their peers. The day ended with a series of
team-building games and activities.
‘Year 8’s authentic reflections, insightful comments and commitment
to work together to support one another was very encouraging to
witness,’ said Principal, Anne Johnstone.
‘I think it was a good initiative,’ said Year 8 student, Arwen Mann.
‘This is an age when girls need to think about these issues seriously
and consider how their actions impact on others. ‘I am glad the
school is running immersions like this.’
‘Other People Matter’ was the catch-cry of Professor Chris
Peterson, one of the founding fathers of Positive Psychology.
The internationally revered psychologist believed that these three
words sum up the whole movement as an approach to wellbeing.
In August, Ravenswood’s Year 8 students used the phrase as
the basis of a Positive Education immersion that encouraged
them to think about character, integrity and the importance of
compassion and friendship.
The keynote session was staged by youth-led organisation, the
Reach Foundation whose facilitators focused the girls’ minds
on questions like
What is the nature of a good relationship?
and
How can we build a connected peer network that benefits us all?
Other People Matter Immersion
Lauren Webber, Ashley Boyd, Lara Gee and Holly Strizic
