Developing a set of school values

The principal at our school recently asked all staff members to contribute what they saw as the values of our school. It was an interesting task and they came up with a vast list. Here it is:

Service

· To others

· To charity

· Have compassion for others in need

· Community minded and not ‘self-serving’

· Show care and compassion

Lifelong Learning

· Are committed to the value e.g. lifelong learning

· Instilling a desire for lifelong learning

· Lifelong education of the whole person

· Value the process of learning and the opportunities to do so

Achieving full potential/excellence

· Make the most of our talents and opportunities

· Achieve your potential

· Maximise potential

· Education of the whole person

· Commitment to development of talents and use of talents – staff, students and parents

· Striving to reach an individual’s potential

Respect

· For individual differences

· The learning styles / needs of individuals in our community

· Of individuals and for the environment

· Everyone and their property

· Beliefs and values of others

· For self and others

· Love

· Acceptance and tolerance of individual difference

· Safety

· Respect for staff, others and environment

Faith

· Live out our faith in the light of the example of Jesus Christ

· Catholic tradition central

· Being a disciple of Jesus in action

· Christian values taught and upheld

· Grace

· Promotion of faith

· Faithful (to College and God)

· Faith filled community

· Spirituality of faith

Celebrate diversity

· Live as part of a global community (contribute to the global community)

· Responsible citizen

· Celebrate the diversity

· Culturally diverse

· Community

· Welcoming

· Providing a caring and welcoming community for all

· Inclusively

· Unified and inclusive as a community

· Acceptance

· Safe and welcoming community (and supportive)

· Value others opinions

· Value diversity

Working Together

· Work together / in partnership

· Provide a safe and supportive community / environment

· Work together towards common goals

· Parents, staff and students sharing the same ideals and working together to the same ends

· Supportive environment

· Support and provide opportunities

· Supportive

· Collaboration

· Cooperation

· Communication – do it nicely!

· Communication

· Equity

· Sense of community

· Forgiving and restorative practices – promotion of choice with responsibility

· Empathy

Wholeness: including

o Striving for Excellence

o Honesty and Respect

o Resilience

o Trust

o Truth / trust

o Wellness

o Optimism / hope

o Forgiveness/Reconciliation

o Commitment

o Integrity

o Loyalty

o Compassion

o Hope

o Optimistic

o Responsive

o Morals

o Leadership

o Just

o Pride in personal appearance

o Having a ‘go’!

o Care for environment

Others:

· Provision of quality teaching (and learning)

· Providing appropriate educational pathways for students

· Build the resilience that we need to take on the challenges in our lives

· Modelling – role models, students and staff

· Support

· Value for money

Some good stuff. Now I think Amanda and I will be involved in honing it down using one of the protocols later in the year. I might have a go at summarising the gist of what is being said in each heading and offering that up as a basis for the Gleeson Ten.