The Whole School embraces the Circle of Courage and it is woven through our daily rhythms. From opening circle where we discuss what we are grateful for each day, to our generosity project that the kids brainstorm and fundraise for every year. We also have several altruistic community-focused endeavours that teach the children to focus on fostering their generosity, showing belonging, gaining independence, and achieving mastery. This is present with our qualitative report cards, our language the staff and adult use with the students, our restorative justice guidance process, and our daily acknowledgements and reinforcements with all individuals at the school. It is a beautiful thing to behold!
The Circle of Courage is a Lakota-based resilience-focused approach to working with children. It promotes positive youth development based on the universal principle that to be emotionally healthy all youth need a sense of belonging, mastery, independence and generosity. This unique model integrates the cultural wisdom of tribal people and the Indigenous cultural belief that four directions portray universal human needs for belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity. These are the foundations for psychological resilience and positive youth development.
Listen to Bee Kind by Elaheh Bos:
Listen to I am: Affirmations for a new generation by Elaheh Bos:
Come sing Be Kind to Everyone:
For this weeks activity, I would like you to practice using kind words and actions. If you are feeling frustrated, upset, or even mad, make sure to take a deep breath, stop, and use kind words. Maybe you have a little brother or sister that took a toy you were playing with or maybe you wanted to visit your friend but they were busy or you wanted something and your adults said "no." Just take a breath, wait a moment, and be kind. Be kind to the people in your life but also to the Earth and all the creatures in it. Do not hurt the little critters - make sure they are safe and protect them. Put the ant or spider outside - do not squish it!
Comments