aspects of the science in policy, practice and classroom teaching.
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Positive Education: First World Congress I was fortunate to be able to attend the largest international forum for Positive Psychology that took place in the United States of America this year. From 18-21 June, over 1,700 delegates attended the first World Congress on Positive Psychology in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Congress brought together the world’s leading researchers and teachers in Positive Psychology including Dr Martin Seligman, the founder of Positive Psychology, Dr Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, author of the Concept of Flow and the book of the same name, Dr Philip Zimbardo, famous for The Stanford University Prison Experiment, and other key researchers, including Professor Sonja Lyubomirsky from the University of California Los Angeles Riverside, Professor Barbara Fredrickson from the University of North Carolina and Dr James Pawelski, Senior Scholar at the Positive Psychology Centre at the University of Pennsylvania. Geelong Grammar School played a pivotal role in three parts of the Congress, with over 1,500
delegates attending presentations involving the School. The first was a Symposium panel organised by the School on Teaching Positive Education in Schools. The Symposium panel was chaired by eminent economist Lord (Richard) Layard from the London School of Economics and included Dr Karen Reivich, co-author of the Penn Resiliency Programme from the University of Pennsylvania, Ian Morris, Head of Religious Education and Wellbeing from Wellington College, UK, Dominic Randolph, Head of School, Riverdale Country School, New York, David Levin, Superintendent, KIPP Academies, New York and myself. The Symposium highlighted the ways that Positive Psychology principles and practices were being implemented in such diverse school settings with significant interest in the structure and method of delivery at GGS. It was very well received. More than 500 people joined me for my dynamic and interactive workshop outlining a framework for Schools to move from the theory of Positive Psychology to implementing
The First World Congress on Positive Psychology was an historical event. It brought together the world’s leading research psychologists associated with the movement of Positive Psychology and I was honoured to have the opportunity to represent and discuss the visionary leadership and hard work that staff at Geelong Grammar School have successfully undertaken. From the discussions and comments that I heard at the Congress, there is no doubt that Geelong Grammar is seen by many as a lighthouse School that is leading the way in a whole school approach to the application of Positive Psychology to education and is making a significant contribution to intellectual debate in this area. In concluding his opening remarks to the Congress, Dr Martin Seligman responded to James Pawelski’s challenge to imagine what Positive Psychology could look like in the future. Seligman asserted that by the year 2051 he imagined that 51% of the population will feel engaged at work, be in meaningful relationships, are healthier, more grateful and calm. Geelong Grammar is making a pivotal contribution to this growing area of psychology enquiry as it seeks to create greater opportunities for its students to explore the possibilities of more meaningful, engaged and fulfilled lives. Dr Mathew White Head of Positive Education 1. L to R: Dr Jane Gillham of Swathmore College, Ian Morris Head of Religious Education and Wellbeing at the Wellington College, Dr Karen Reivich from the University of Pennsylvania, Mr Dominic Randolph (Head of School) Riverdale Country School and Dr Mathew White (Head of Positive Education, Geelong Grammar School)
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GGS Chess Team: Trip to Russia After more than a year of preparation, in April 2009, the School Chess Team participated in the first Western School trip to the Republic of Kalmykia, in southern Russia. There, the State’s President, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, who is also President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), has introduced compulsory Chess in all schools. Apart from the Australian National Chess Team in 1996, we were the first Australian group to visit the region, and within 30 minutes of our arrival, we were greeted by President Ilyumzhinov. Staying at Chess City, a new suburb on the outskirts of Elista, we took part in two tournaments, one against local school children – three of whom are in the 38
Russian National Youth Team. We fared better in the President of Kalmykia Cup against local competitors of all ages. Our every move, both on chessboards and around Elista was followed by local media and we featured regularly in the local newspapers and on television. Apart from playing Chess, we visited schools, a school disco, several theatres, the largest Buddhist Temple in Europe, and even the remote township of Turgan Aman on the Volga River, close to the border with Kazakhstan. The Kalmyks are Buddhists, and descendants of the Mongols who remained in Europe at the end of the Mongol Empire. As a result, Kalmykia is the only Buddhist part of Europe,
as well as being the centre of world Chess. After eight days in Elista, we went to Volgograd where we saw sites connected with the battle of Stalingrad, and then to Moscow for some sightseeing and shopping, as well as visiting the cosmonaut training site at Space City. Dr Justin Corfield Teacher of Humanities 2. L to R: Mem Arif (Yr10 P), Mrs Heather Morgan, Alexander Bryant-Clark (Yr11 P), Greg Toth (Yr9 G Unit), Tim Auret (Yr11 A), Dr Justin Corfield, President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, Jack Walker (Yr11 Cu), captain of Chess, Mr Gary Watson, Thomas Claeys (Yr12 Cu) and Will Lilkendey (Yr11 A) at the Parliament of Kalmykia 3. President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov starting the Chess Tournament against local school children.