In ako time, your daughter has spent time looking at the VIA character strengths matrix.

She has taken the following quiz, Free Character Strengths Test and knows what her top 8 signature character strengths are. In ako time, these strengths and the knowledge around what they mean are developed further. In Year 9 for example, they have used their strengths when working on growth mindset and goal setting. In Year 11, the students have been looking at resilience, and will be asked to apply their character strengths to help build tools and strategies to improve resilience.

While your daughters have completed the youth survey, there is also an adult survey that you can take. We highly recommend parents/caregivers take this survey and support our work in ako time by using the terminology at home. Go to the link above to do this and then ask your daughter to show you page 4 and 5 of her ako workbook so you're able to discuss the signature strengths of each of you. One suggestion for a dinner time discussion instead of "how was school today", you could ask "what strengths did you use today?"

If you would like to know more about the strengths based approach, this book by Leah Waters is a very good read. Click here to find out more. 

Please contact Genevieve Leech on leg@cghs.school.nz if you would like to discuss this further.