Compassionate / Core virtues

core VIRTUES

This year the Pastoral Team have aligned the Pastoral Programme around the Launceston Grammar virtues.

The virtues are wisdom, gentleness, love, compassion, kindness, service, joy, hope, thankfulness, humility, patience, perseverance, justice, forgiveness and sincerity.

The word virtue stems from the Latin word virtis. A virtue can be seen as a trait or quality that is good; a trait that leads to character; something that makes our community better.

As a team, the House Heads and Head of Grade 7 have chosen three core virtues from the 15 as a focus for common goals for all Houses in 2019. The three virtues are service, kindness and compassion.

Toward the end of Term 2 the House Heads and Head of Grade 7 presented a challenge to the School. Each tutor group was asked to find ways in which they can help others. They were given a small sum of money and challenged to see what they could do with the funds. They were also asked how they could, as a collective, use their talents for others.

As Martin Luther King Jnr wrote: 'It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one destiny, affects all indirectly'.

This year, the team have instigated a Global Learners and Leaders series which sees 10 Launceston Grammar staff each deliver a presentation to the students. The talks have been titled Grammar Talks, with topics reflecting the Launceston Grammar virtues as well as issues of concern raised by students through extensive survey feedback.

The team have also focused on increasing the exposure our students and parents have to a range of guest speakers. The Parent Seminar series has seen presentations on the exploitation of young people, cyber safety, alcohol, drugs and young people and parenting in the twenty-first century.

Nick Foster, Deputy Head (Students)