Last week, we shared the great work being done in our schools with Sweethearts & Heroes. Dovetailing with that work, we are also working with an organization called The Positivity Project (P2) in all of our schools. We are committed to building a district-wide, positive culture through a strength-based approach, empowering students to take ownership of their actions and strengthen relationships.
Each week, we focus on a character trait. Through announcements, lessons, and activities, students are given the opportunity to learn the value of each trait, and put it into practice. In addition to the work we do at school, The Positivity Project provides a range of family resources as well to help support this work.
As we reach the end of October, we are taking a week to review all of the character traits we have worked on so far this year. Please consider taking some time this week to talk to your child about one or two of these traits. The family resource guide linked about has some great questions that can help get those conversations started.
September 8-12 - Other People Mindset
In the first week we focused on the value of identifying and appreciating the good in other people. By truly doing that, you develop an understanding that our actions affect others, so cheering other people’s success and supporting them when they struggle can make a huge difference for the people around you.
September 15-19 - Curiosity
Individuals with the character trait of curiosity are more likely to ask questions and try new things. Curiosity, then, is a form of courage. Asking questions means admitting we don’t have all the answers. By being curious about others, we give ourselves the chance to learn and grow.
September 22-26 - Teamwork
For individuals, teamwork often means delaying or deferring individual accomplishments in order to ensure the success and performance of the larger group. Commitment to the larger group can make one a better teammate and citizen. This ties back to week 1’s Other People Mindset by encouraging the understanding of that sometimes we need to put our own immediate wants aside for what’s best for the group, and that can be its own reward.
September 29 - October 3 - Open-Mindedness
Individuals with the character strength of open-mindedness are more likely to make accurate decisions, and decisions they won’t regret. Open-mindedness requires thinking through all sides of an issue, actively fighting against one’s own bias, by generating evidence, evaluating that evidence, and testing hypotheses.
October 6-10 - Other People Mindset: Being present and giving others my attention
It is important when you are with other people to be present and give them your full attention. We are surrounded by things that distract us from others, like social media, text messages, email, etc. Research shows that relationships are the cornerstone of health, happiness and resilience. Giving others your undivided attention is absolutely necessary to building those relationships.
October 13-17 - Perspective
Perspective is the ability to appreciate that people see things in different ways, and having the ability to understand the world from multiple viewpoints. Perspective helps provide clarity on what matters and what does not. Seeing things from multiple angles helps us remain calm and learn from mistakes. Being able to reflect on one’s own thoughts, feelings, and motives helps us understand the people around us.
October 20-24 - Forgiveness
Forgiveness is not only about letting go of anger toward someone who has done wrong, but understanding that people make mistakes. It is the ability to move past being injured. Forgiveness has individual benefits such as lowering stress levels and allowing for the repair of relationships. It also has group benefits as conflict is inevitable whenever a group of people work together. Forgiveness allows the group to move forward.