The students explore the 6cs

Students have been hearing a lot about the Shaper Profile through assemblies and tutor time activities.

Last week our Year 12 and 13 students were encouraged to think about their role in creating a positive community. We all play a part in creating the climate of the community in which we live through the interactions we have on a daily basis. The "micro-moments" which we all experience throughout the day build-up to create a sense of the collective mood of a community - this happens through every interaction, from passing someone in the playground, entering the classroom or queueing for lunch. We challenged students to consider whether their influence in each of these interactions is positive or negative and how they could ensure that their influence on micro-moments is always positive.

Students were introduced to the "Active Constructive Responding" model of communication (shown below) and encouraged to consider the impact they can have on other people and how this can contribute to a positive climate in the community.

Finally, we discussed the importance of showing gratitude for others and for oneself. Actively showing appreciation for the kindness and efforts of others is a simple step towards creating a positive community, but one which is easy to miss. We often take for granted the people who are most deserving of our thanks - including ourselves! We asked students to write a card of appreciation to someone in their tutor group and to aim to show appreciation for themselves over the long weekend. This is a great challenge for adults as well - perhaps a family activity to pass on the thanks or kindness.

By breaking down our 6Cs and exploring some of the underlying messages we are encouraging students to understand and develop positive character attributes, which will enhance their ability to be positive members of the community now and in the future.

Dan Norbury
Secondary Section Principal