Positive Education and Character Strengths

Positive Education is one of the approaches that we have adopted at Ripley Valley State Secondary College to help us achieve a strong community that values belonging and connection.

Positive Education refers to the way that some schools and other education settings have been able to apply the research and practice from positive psychology to their own contexts. In particular, some schools have sought to embed simple, research-based practices into their classrooms, staff rooms and playgrounds. The purpose is to build positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, accomplishment and health (PERMAH), in order to boost wellbeing.

PERMA is the organising framework for the Positive Education Practices that have been designed for schools.   Many schools have since added the H for Health. Each letter in the PERMAH framework refers to a pillar that leads to greater wellbeing. Therefore, the six pillars for the Positive Education Practices are:

Positive emotion (P);

Engagement (E);

Relationships (R);

Meaning (M);

Accomplishment (A); and,

Health (H).

For more details on each of these PERMAH pillars follow the link below - Introduction to PERMAH.

http://www.unleashingpersonalpotential.com.au/pos-ed-explained

CHARACTER STRENGTHS

This term at Ripley Valley State Secondary College we are working with students to identify their Character Strengths. Character Strengths are the positive parts of your personality that impact how you think, feel and behave and are the keys to you being your best self, and the things you might want to work on.

Character Strengths are not about things that you are good at - although knowing your strengths may help you recognise the things that you are likely to be good at.

Further information on Character Strengths can be found at http://www.viacharacter.org

You can also take the free questionnaire to find out your own character strengths.

Janet Ingram

Guidance Officer