Strengths Explorer

One of the challenges to growing future leaders is helping them find their sense of identity and belonging - especially in a world where the modus operandi is still to compete, to compare, to judge; where not everybody understands that differences are advantages. But differences are advantages. Our expressed differences are borne of many things, including our natural talents and passions, and our level of emotional agility. 

We have partnered with Tui Fleming, who is a Gallup strengths coach and leadership strategist, to work with our Junior High students over Terms 3 and 4. Through a programme of workshops and strengths coaching, students are exploring their unique strengths and have been taught practical tools to overcome challenges common to this age group - anxiety, fear of failure or judgment, a sense of belonging and understanding of their unique talents and potential. 

Student Kyron Oerder says, “It has been interesting to learn something about myself that I didn’t really know.” Classmate Phoebe Tutt has been excited about “spending time imagining my future self.” 

Creativity in Action

Our Primary age students had a great Term 3 full of various challenges and inquiries that developed their problem-solving and creativity skills. Challenges included making marble runs out of LEGO; working out where in Takapuna they could travel without walking more than 1km; and building the highest towers made out of spaghetti and tape. The overall highlight though was the Neolithic Village that the students made to represent all that they had learned about the innovations in this past era which helped humans move from being nomadic to living in settlements.