This week I took advantage of the unfriendly weather and began to implement a college culture program.
We explored and discussed many things and along the way identified who we are as individuals and who we are as a college.
** “The desire to form and join a group is extremely powerful and built into our nature. Amongst other things groups give us a most valuable gift, our social identity, which contributes to our sense of who we are.”
Most of our lives are spent in groups. In the case of IFS it can be a group of students from different backgrounds coming together for a common theme ie football, tennis and education.
We also explored culture. What is it ?
We understood that the IFS culture would be built on students sharing goals and attitudes. For example playing like professional sports people and adopting a positive attitude in regard to health and acting as good role models. What we practice to bring the above to life characterises IFS and the students, teachers and coaches. This makes us us. IFS. It’s our DNA as a college and sets us apart. This is our culture. It’s a culture that ensures students can reach their full potential through working hard, being disciplined and looking out for each other by helping those who may be going through difficult times stay on track. As in life, sport can also be full of ups and downs.
The students understood they could support one another because of the goals and beliefs they as a community share. For instance IFS students all understand how important making a team is or performing well in a match or tournament and if needed support or encouragement could be found by those around them at college.
The students where also asked to select a set of values. Each student was presented with 250 words and phrases, such as hard working, courage, inspire etc.
These will be collated and the most popular six values will indeed become the values of the college. Students, teachers and coaches may all be held accountable to these values. I explained the word courage; it does not just mean being brave in battle or a contest but also having the courage to do the right thing.
This will be a process but the input from the students has been fantastic and that is so important for sustainability. This is the framework that keeps a house together and I will keep you updated with my progress in this program.
** The author attributes this quote to Jeremy Dene
Leave a Reply