CENTRE FOR WELLBEING & POSITIVE EDUCATION Chipping away for a flourishing College
Since its inception two years ago, the Centre for Wellbeing & Positive Education has been making inroads into the fabric of College culture.
ensure we’re able to support those who play for fun and enjoyment, as well as those who are looking to develop a career out of sport.” As staff adopt the language and the ethos of the Centre, the messaging will spread throughout the school, helped by input from guest speakers such as Matthew Scholes and Mike King. “Good mental health is a prerequisite for effective learning, and the Centre aims to bring positive psychology and best teaching practice together to promote good relationships, foster resilience and encourage positive lifestyle choices,” says John. The message was reinforced on campus this year with a visit by the hip hop roadshow I am Unbreakable . Looking ahead, John says the work now lies in embedding the message into every aspect of College life. “We’re embedding it within the curriculum, from the classroom to the sports field. We need time to promote it through all aspects of College life and activities. It’s about using appropriate language – words like mindfulness, growth mindsets, and a strengths focus. “We want the boys to understand their character strengths and how they can use them daily. We want them to develop a growth mindset
The Centre is an innovative approach by Christ’s College to ensure every boy flourishes and develops the skills he needs to thrive throughout his life. This credo has been taught through the Health and Wellbeing programme in Years 9–11, and its message of what it means to be a man in the 21st century has been reinforced through the MANifesto programme for senior boys. Sport is one means to drive the message, and Director of Wellbeing and Positive Education John Quinn is working with Strength and Conditioning staff to implement a revitalised coach education programme. “We are encouraging the boys to become lifelong athletes – not just for the period of their school years. Sport can be an enjoyable and valuable addition to life, whatever your age. We are also encouraging the boys to lay the foundations for building a growth mindset, so they are open to challenges and new ideas, are flexible and able to bounce back from disappointment in their lives. And, of course, we want them to be able to focus on their strengths and gain enjoyment and satisfaction from seeing these develop and grow,” says John. “We’re also looking at promoting their character strengths and helping them develop perseverance, leadership and love of the game to
as opposed to a fixed mindset. To have the will and courage to try new things, embrace failure and reinforce the process, not the outcome. “We want them to learn about mindfulness, to focus on the moment and be able to express compassion and gratitude. “The end goal is the ideal College graduate – someone with all the character attributes we have identified as being desirable. “This is about much more than just academic success and dealing with those kinds of pressures. It is a slow process, it’s about building on the great things College does and slowly shifting the lens on what we focus on. And the exciting part is, more and more of us want to be part of that.” Home life plays a large role in shaping attitudes and outlooks, and John is heartened by the feedback from parents who “get it.” “It’s an ongoing process, but we’re very heartened by the changes we are seeing, and the gradual acknowledgement that there can be another way of doing things, another approach to ‘success’, another language which means every boy can truly be at his best.”
College Issue 35 2018
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