They’ve all got high hopes

A RECENT survey of The Knox School’s years 7 and 8 students conducted by The Resilience Foundation, shows that the school has a predominance of resilient young people with high levels of personal strength, hope and school engagement.
The foundation, led by psychologist Andrew Fuller, is an independent institution whose mission is to provide leadership, knowledge, and support to assist the development of resilience in young people in the school and community.
The survey tests on 40 building blocks of healthy development that help young people grow as healthy, caring, principled and productive people.
The tests are based on adult “connectedness”, empowerment, boundaries and expectations, time management, educational engagement, positive values, social skills and personal identity.
The survey showed that most students at The Knox School were within the “good” or “excellent” range, with 85 per cent of students on the “hope index” being optimistic about their future.
The Resilience Foundation personnel said they rarely saw such a high percentage at this age.
In 2009 The Knox School will unveil its new, year 8/9 centre which has a curriculum focus on adolescent health and wellbeing.
Principal Suzanne McChesney said the new purpose built centre would aim to develop greater social and personal development, confidence, resilience and self-esteem, with programs designed to cater for the needs of the young people in their emerging adulthood. The Knox School is at 220 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South. Phone 8805 3800.
Website www.knox.vic.edu .au