Recognising and Building Character Strengths in Our Students

At Our Lady of Mercy College, we are committed to nurturing the whole person. An important part of this mission is helping our students develop strong character.

Character strengths are the positive qualities that shape who young people are becoming, qualities such as kindness, perseverance, honesty, courage and curiosity. These strengths influence the way students think, feel and act, supporting them to grow into their best selves both at school and beyond.

Research shows that when students recognise and use their strengths, they experience greater wellbeing, build stronger relationships and develop the resilience needed to navigate life’s challenges. A strengths-based approach focuses on what students do well. This not only builds confidence and motivation but also supports learning and academic success.

Our approach is guided by the VIA Institute on Character, an internationally recognised framework that provides a shared language for understanding and developing character strengths in practical and meaningful ways.

Throughout College life, whether in retreats, activity days or everyday classroom experiences, students are encouraged to recognise their own strengths and appreciate the strengths of others. They are supported to think about how they can apply these strengths in different situations to enhance their learning, strengthen relationships and grow as individuals.

In everyday moments, this might look like:

• including others at recess (kindness)

• persisting with a challenging task (perseverance)

• speaking up or asking for help (courage)

• supporting a friend (empathy)

• asking thoughtful questions in class (curiosity)

Parents play an important role in nurturing these strengths at home. You can support your child by noticing and naming their strengths (e.g. “I saw you show great perseverance with your assessment task”), encouraging effort when things are challenging, modelling positive behaviours such as kindness and gratitude, and creating opportunities for them to use their strengths in daily life. Simple conversations about what went well each day can also help build your child’s confidence, self-awareness and sense of identity.

Together, as a community, we can support each young person to flourish – growing in confidence, strengthening their character, and contributing positively to others and the world around them.

To learn more about this approach, please click on the link below.

Why Do Strengths Matter? – Strength Based Living