Core values of teamwork, community, respect, courage, opportunity and integrity really matter to the school and extend to the whole community, both adults and children.
Early summer 2018, I joined the Geneva English School (GES) as a member of the Board of Governors. Geneva English School is one of the most respected international primary schools in Geneva for over 50 years and has recently opened an education for secondary students in Versoix, just outside Geneva.
Since my first visit to the school campus, and having walked around the classes in Genthod, I was delighted to see the joy and energy of the children and the amazing creativity nurtured by the teachers. GES combine innovative approaches for learning with the school ethos that, since 1961, has focused on providing a caring, community-oriented, small school atmosphere that nurtures individual pupils with a global outlook.
Developing Social Skills and Character in Children
All around the school, I saw posters with words of encouragement, evidence of community spirit and activities, Everything is designed to create a respectful school climate through social-emotional learning, character education and effective discipline. One can feel that each classroom is creating a climate of mutual respect through teaching communication, cooperation, problem-solving, and self-regulatory skills. I was thrilled to see how very close the teachings of Positive Discipline is applied in this wonderful school led by a very inspired Headmaster and his dynamic staff, as well as the other governor members.
As a Trainer in Positive Discipline for parents and in the Classroom, this is a wonderful opportunity for me to experience and to learn during this new assignment. I very much look forward to seeing first hand the results of how these core values are practised in the classrooms for the healthy development of a child’s social skills which are so essential in today’s world.
Connecting Positive Discipline and GES Core Values
At GES, the core values of teamwork, community, respect, courage, opportunity and integrity really matter to the school and extend to the whole community, both adults and children.
In Positive Discipline, we use these key concepts for developing essential life skills in children:
- Mutual respect. Adults model firmness by respecting themselves and theneeds of the situation, and kindness by respecting the needs of the child.
- Effective communication and problem-solving skills.
- Discipline that teaches (and is neither permissive nor punitive).
- Focusing on solutions instead of punishment.
- Encouragement (instead of praise). Encouragement notices effort and improvement, not just success, and builds long-term self-esteem and empowerment.
After an amazing summer in San Diego where I attended the 2018 Positive Discipline Think Tank (an article to follow soon), I am excited to start the new school year with many inspiring projects.
Find out more about Positive Discipline and it’s activities in the classroom and/or parenting here.
Thank you for visiting and reading. I hope I have encouraged you to give me a call to try on a Positive Discipline sample session if this is new to you!
