Local school nurtures creativity

Lisieux Catholic Primary School has earned itself a reputation as a learning community committed to fostering the full potential of its students, exploring best-practice ways to build life skills and resilience through authentic, hands-on experiences.

Foundation principal, Dr Susan Ryan, explains the school’s focus: “Since our opening in 2018, we have explicitly committed ourselves to creating the conditions for young people to thrive”.

“We integrate a positive psychology approach into our practice, have a strong focus on outdoor learning and on fostering ways for students to express themselves.”

Susan explains that while many people think of creativity in terms of a finished outcome, “creative expression is really about the process, and the great learning and problem solving that grows through the messiness of creation”.

At Lisieux, the opportunities for creative expression come not only in explicit Arts-based subjects such as 100 Languages, but also in Maths, Science, Literacy and Religious Education where critical thinking and problem solving are encouraged and individuals find various means to express themselves.

Mr Ron Dando, who facilitates a specialist intervention program at Lisieux, known as Shin-rin Yoku, says “creativity exists in every child and there is no right or wrong way for a child to be creative”.

“We have a range of programs and initiatives, whole class or small group, where our task is to provide the right resources, encouragement, time and space.

“The students then take risks and develop new ways of thinking and expressing themselves.”

The school also runs small group Atelier (art therapy) sessions and Sports Academy intervention groups, led by trained specialist educators.

Lisieux educators actively teach about building a growth mindset, rather than a fixed mindset, encouraging students to have a go, enter the

‘learning pit’ and face challenges that lead to growth and understanding.

Mindfulness, Christian meditation and regular brainbreaks are timetabled parts of the school day, supporting students to be reflective, boost their creativity and to build a toolkit of life skills for success.

More information about the way Lisieux supports the full flourishing of students can be found on their website or by contacting the principal.Mindfulness, Christian meditation and regular brainbreaks are timetabled parts of the school day at Lisieux.

Lisieux educators actively teach about building a growth mindset, rather than a fixed mindset.