Bellevue has been accredited to teach the Cornerstone Values programme. It is based on teaching eight values: honesty and truthfulness, kindness, consideration and concern for others, compassion, obedience, responsibility, respect and duty, over a two year cycle.
The Cornerstone Values approach seeks to build character through;
| • | Teaching by precept and example, eight cornerstone values, the laws of consequences and rational decision making |
| • | Developing in students the ability to recognise and practise cornerstone values What the Cornerstone Values Approach is not |
| • | A religious programme – but cornerstone values are upheld by all major religions and philosophies |
| • | A life skill programme – but it provides an essential foundation to many existing life skills programmes |
| • | An addition to the school curriculum – but delivers the approach through the existing curriculum |
| • | A class programme – but an approach that links knowledge, attitudes and behaviour. |
The approach is not a ‘clip on’ – but an infusion that informs and directs everything that happens in a school – in the Principal’s office, the Board meetings, the staff-student relationships, the classroom, the playing fields and the way the students treat each other.
It is concerned with the creation of an appropriate school culture and recognises that values are communicated through relationships.
Cornerstone Values
The eight cornerstone values are principles that are consistent, universal, and transcultural. They build character that produces behaviour that is beneficial for the individual, others and the community.
| The eight cornerstone values are drawn from the research of C. S. Lewis. They are: • honesty and truthfulness • kindness • consideration and concern for others • compassion • obedience • responsibility • respect • duty |
The Cornerstone Values approach recognizes that each of the eight cornerstone values has knowledge, attitude and behavioural components that are linked to the three attributes of character –
• knowing the good
• desiring the good
• doing the good.
One of the significant features of the Cornerstone Values approach is the universality of its application. Not only does it apply to families, schools, community groups and business but also to all levels of schooling. In the school the principles and teaching content are fixed but the methodology and resources change to remain age appropriate.
Other strengths are that the approach is community based, it does not add to an already crowded curriculum and has the overwhelming support of parents.
The approach empowers students by making them keenly aware that it is their own character that is at stake and challenges them to consider such questions as:
• What kind of person am I becoming?
• What kind of person do I want to be?
• How shall I live with others?
At the same time the approach:
| • | Helps students understand that character determines behaviour just as behaviour determines character |
| • | Enables students to develop the skills of rational decision making |
| • | Enables students to cope with peer and societal pressure |
| • | Enables students to accept responsibility and accountability for personal behaviour |
| • | Helps students to become responsible and caring members of the community |
| • | Encourages students to be concerned for others and the greater good |
| • | Encourages students to contribute to the well being of the community |
At Bellevue School we will teach one value each term which means students will be taught the eight values over a two year period and that in their six years they will be exposed to explicit teaching of each value three times.
The cycle in which the eight values will be taught is:
|
TERM |
VALUE |
| One | Responsibility |
| Two | Obedience |
| Three | Compassion |
| Four | Duty |
| One | Honesty and Truthfulness |
| Two | Respect |
| Three | Consideration |
| Four | Kindness |
website and learning management system.