NEWS & EVENTS Welcome John Quinn
John Quinn was appointed our Counsellor and Director of Wellbeing and Positive Education at the beginning of the year. He brings a wealth of experience to the role.
John was a guidance counsellor at St Andrew’s College for 13 years. Before that he worked at Yellow Ribbon, Child Youth and Family, Te Poutama Arahi Rangitahi, and was a social worker for six years. He is also a director of the 100% Project and About Change, and has worked as a mental skills trainer with New Zealand cricket and rugby, as well as the Crusaders, Canterbury Cricket, Tactix Netball and High Performance Sport New Zealand. At Christ’s College we aim to create an environment where boys flourish, and wellbeing and positive education are set to become key influencers on all our programmes. Through the Centre for Wellbeing & Positive Education, John will lead a three- year implementation programme that will see positive education embedded across the school, both inside and outside the classroom. “The emphasis on wellbeing and positive education reflects a new way of approaching the science of positive psychology in all that we do,” says John. “Working in a culture where collaboration, confidence, respect and engagement prevail, we can inspire our students to embrace challenges and approach life with a growth mindset.” By teaching character and wellbeing, College students will build a “toolbox of skills” to help them manage all aspects of their academic, sporting, cultural and personal lives. “Our role is to give
them the tools to manage life. It’s not about reducing stress, because stress isn’t going to go away. It’s about teaching them ways to manage stress and make the most of their time at school,” says John. “We want to help the boys flourish by building resilience, grit and optimism – and see them grow into young men of character, ready to thrive in their community and make a success of their lives.”
Christ’s College Canterbury
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