Australian Capital Territory – news – 22/05/09
Values Education in ACT Schools
All ACT schools have opportunities to be involved in a wide range of activities. Schools have opportunities to embed values education into school culture through curriculum and community activities which develop skills, understandings, and self-knowledge in students that will enable them to practise positive values on a regular basis.
The ACT Values Education and Student Wellbeing Professional Learning package 2008–09 provides funding for ACT schools to support the development of a whole-school approach to values education and assist schools to embed values-based student wellbeing programs into their school community through curriculum and school-based activities.
Research will be conducted by the University of Canberra and the Australian Catholic University in partnership with the funded schools. It will focus on the nature of change in school culture as a consequence of values education implementation.
Fourteen government and non-government ACT schools have been funded to undertake Values Education and Student Wellbeing projects in 2009. A summary of these projects is outlined below:
School | Project Title |
Caroline Chisholm School (Cluster project) | PACT – Positive Education in ACT Schools |
Gold Creek P–10 School (Cluster project) | PACT – Positive Education in ACT Schools |
Wanniassa P–10 School (Cluster project) | PACT – Positive Education in ACT Schools |
Garran Primary School | The Living Values of Garran Primary School |
Isabella Plains Early Childhood School | Developing our Identity |
Jervis Bay School | It takes a whole village to raise a child |
Latham Primary School | Friendly Schools and Families |
Melrose High School | Show Some RESPECT campaign |
Merici College | Values Reflection Days – Years 7–10 |
Richardson Primary School | Richardson’s Journey to Success – Stories from our School |
St Anthony’s Primary School | Be the Change |
St Thomas the Apostle Primary School | Hands that Unite |
Telopea Park School P-10 | Reinforcing School Values and Student Wellbeing |
Trinity Christian School | Go with… (Respect, Integrity etc) |
Professional Development
To strengthen whole-school approaches to values education, in alignment with international trends and Australian Government priorities, a variety of professional learning sessions will be offered. The proposed activities will include:
- Twilight Case Studies: funded schools will host a twilight case study session for teachers, to showcase their whole school approach and share good practice in values education.
- ACT New Educator Support Program: To further develop teacher quality and capacity in acknowledging values as a pedagogical imperative, values education will form part of the ACT New Educator Support Program in 2009.
- Positive Psychology in Values Education Conference: This conference will promote whole school approaches to Values and Positive Education. This professional learning opportunity has been confirmed for 23 June 2009.
- ACT Values Education Forum: This event will be a formal celebration that aims to bring together parents, teachers, jurisdictional officers and academic advisors to promote and reflect upon values education activities throughout 2008–09. This forum will also disseminate research findings and support improved values education practices in both the local and national context.