Emotional Intelligence

Students at Margaret River Primary School are encouraged to develop their emotional intelligence. This is achieved through the class-based programs of Bounce Back Resiliency and Aussie Optimism.

The Bounce Back program, by Drs Helen McGrath and Toni Noble, has an easy acronym:

• Bad times don’t last. Things always get better.
• Other people can help you, if you talk to them.
• Unhelpful thinking makes you feel more upset.
• Nobody is perfect – not you and not others.
• Concentrate on the good bits, no matter how small. Laugh every day
• Everybody experiences sadness, hurt, failure, rejection and setbacks sometimes.

• Blame fairly – how much was due to you, to others, or to bad luck.
• Accept the things you can’t change, but try to change what you can first.
• Catastrophising exaggerates your worries. Don’t believe the worst.
• Keep things in perspective. It’s not the end of the world. It’s only a part of your life.

The Rock and Water program offers boys in Years 5 and 6  strategies on how to manage their anger and physicality through developing assertiveness and balance as they work through conflict and challenging situations.

CHIC is a program for girls in Years 5 and 6, which provides them with an opportunity to discuss Choices, Hopes, Identity and Connections in a comfortable small group environment. As social networking is such a big part of today’s lifestyle, we discuss the positive and negative impact it can have on peoples lives.