In Focus
The Dark Side of Character Strengths
Let me start this article by saying how much I love the VIA Character strengths and using them. They are incredibly positive and empowering. Our signature strengths come to us easily, so it is easy to use them no matter what the situation. We go for them immediately – that’s what makes them our signature … Continued
Online Learning…. Again!
The inevitable has happened, we are in lockdown. Our challenge from last term has come about again, online learning. As a parent I have experienced a wide range of emotions over the past week. Ranging for anxiety about going back into online, fear about how we are going to cope, anger at the careless people … Continued
How Does a Sense of Purpose Contribute to Our Lives?
In difficult times, such as the ones we collectively find ourselves in now, there are certain things that can help us as human beings. A good sense of humour is one – the capacity to laugh even when there might be tears. This is certainly why we chose humour as our wellbeing theme for Term … Continued
What Did We Learn About Managing From The Last Lockdown?
For some time now, the shadow of a return to Stage 3 restrictions has hovered over us – and now that they have been announced we might feel a mixture of relief – that we finally know what the future will hold and also sadness, that we must limit our lives and restrict our movements … Continued
How the Five Daily Habits Can Improve Your Day
I wasn’t having a great day today. I was feeling stressed and overwhelmed and well outside of my comfort zone. I was stretched, grumpy and wanted to go back to bed. But I knew that I couldn’t – I knew I had to do something that would act like a “reset button” – something that … Continued
What Role Does Humour Play in our Wellbeing?
Each term Berwick Grammar School has a wellbeing theme – an idea we explore as a community that assists us to understand and build our wellbeing. Last term, when we spent much of our time working and learning remotely, that wellbeing theme was Humour. This may seem like an odd choice, but was in fact … Continued
How Do We Deal With the Possibility of Further Restrictions?
The recent announcement of restrictions increasing rather than continuing to decrease has caused mixed responses – and a lot of anxiety. Once again we are feeling afraid of COVID19, and wondering how we will cope with a return to the lifestyle we once had when working and learning from home. As many of you know, … Continued
Targeting Character Strengths
In our last Character Strengths article, we talked about building our character literacy and helping young people to see they had key positive qualities they could utilise to solve problems. This is a strategy that can help to build tremendous resilience and self-confidence. It also builds connection and helps young people feel seen and appreciated … Continued
What is the Ideal Holiday for a Senior Student?
Many have remarked that this term – where we have learnt remotely and then come back together as school communities, but with new routines and habits – has been “the longest term ever”. And with holidays of two or three weeks coming up, many senior students will be looking to recharge the batteries. And while … Continued
Why ‘Just Do It’ Is The Way To Go
Do you ever wonder how some people get so much done? Do you have lists of tasks to do that are never ending? Do you ever start off doing one chore/task/job and then get to the end of the day, have done seemingly a lot of things but never accomplished what you wanted? It seems … Continued
Why Do We Need a Men’s Health Week?
It’s Men’s Health Week this week – and at our Senior Boys campus this provides us with an opportunity to consider some vital issues facing young men today. As boys are natural problem solvers, and often less communicative than girls, it can be harder to recognise the issues that face them – but there are … Continued
Talking About Strengths
Recently we posted about character strengths as an important tool for positive conversations about who we are and what we have to draw on. Doing the VIA Character Strengths Survey will give you an idea of which characteristics you draw to the forefront and use most readily. We call these our signature strengths. You usually … Continued
