Oki Somerset,
We are currently in the process of updating the Somerset School website. One of the changes which you will notice is the work our school community has been engaging in to support the development of both student and staff well-being.
A key element which flows throughout our work in ensuring Somerset school is a “welcoming,
caring, respectful and safe” learning environment which “respects
diversity and nurtures a sense of belonging and positive sense of self” is
the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to be well in every sense of the word. We need to be well emotionally, intellectually, physically, socially and spiritually.
Leaning into the Medicine Wheel as a key
visual for well-being, not only provides a visual framework to build our
conceptual understanding of wellness, it also supports the application of
First Nations, Metis and Inuit knowledge systems. The wisdom from other cultures and life experiences provides us with an alternative way to think about how we can raise strong resilient students. We know
in order to live well in society, one needs to be educated. Students who do not graduate with a grade 12
education usually experience a diminished quality of life. It is also important to note, not graduating impacts
not only the student's life, but the lives of their future children and
grandchildren are also negatively impacted.
We know having an educated Mind is
critical to lifelong success, but teaching the skills and creating the
environments from which students can be ready to educate their minds is also
critical.
This involves teaching and developing the
learning which occurs on the inside of a person. Learning which occurs in the ‘human
heart.” Teaching the Mind can come from
books, conversations, and other forms of communications, but we can only build
the heart or student wellness from providing students with ith
certain experiences.
At Somerset School we are nurturing the heart, mind and spirit of our students by providing students with experiences to expand their abilities to:
1) show kindness and generosity by teaching and modelling the act of assuming good intent and forgiving the mistakes of others. Generosity involves showing respect for self, others, and the environment(s) we live in. These actions demonstrate the how we know we are good.
2) show belonging by teaching and modelling how to be friendly and cooperative with others. These actions demonstrate how important each of us are.
3) show perseverance in times which challenge us both academically and socially. This requires the development of an emotional vocabulary to support the ability to be self-aware and demonstrate self-control, patience, and independence. Independence is the action of being responsible for ourselves and our actions.
4) show curiosity and mastery which demonstrates what we are capable of.
This work is fuelled by the common goal of progressing students along the continuum of becoming "problem solvers, who think critically and are actively engaged in leading healthy lives of meaning."
Hand to heart,
Nathan Bane
Somerset School Principal
