Success Story
Esperance Anglican Community School
Esperance Anglican Community School is a co-educational secondary school in Western Australia, established in 2008. Known for its inclusive environment and strong community values, the school emphasizes holistic education and student well-being.
Situation
Esperance Anglican Community School is a fairly new school founded in 2008. It started with 8 students and has grown to 165 students with about 24 teachers. When the current deputy principal joined the school in 2009, it was as a teacher, and FISH! was already in the school. Once he was promoted to deputy principal, he ensured The FISH! Philosophy continued to be used to their advantage as guiding principles. He believes this gives them an edge and sharpness in relationships within the school.Objectives
FISH! was adopted because the first principal was looking for a way to set the school apart and create a difference in how students and teachers relate to one another.FISH! Approach
At the start of the year, as part of their big assembly, the FISH! DVD is shown. The four FISH! philosophies are then explained, including what each one means and how it can be applied in a school context and in daily life. Additional activities are done throughout the year to reinforce this. Their approach focuses on ingraining the mindset and culture of FISH! into students’ daily lives. FISH! is part of their rewards system (Good Standing Policy), which addresses all aspects of discipline. Students earn FISH! points for living the FISH! values. Certificates are awarded at different point levels (Bronze = 50 points, Silver = 100, Gold = 150, Rainbow = 200), and FISH! badges are made to match the certificates. This approach works especially well with years 7–8. FISH! is also a useful tool to discuss issues with students and help them recognize their role in incidents. It provides a constructive way to communicate expectations, consider others' feelings, and work toward acceptable solutions. The biggest use of FISH! is through incentives and a restorative process.Results
As a result, the school has a really good group of students who, by and large, are open, cooperative, fun, and respectful of individual differences. The school is very diverse, and students support one another and appreciate each other’s unique qualities. There is a strong sense of broad friendship, and students overwhelmingly get along well. Much of this is credited to the relationships built within the school and the influence of The FISH! Philosophy.
FISH! has had a positive impact on how students interact with one another in meaningful ways. Teachers love FISH! because it’s something easily embraced, and it consistently receives positive feedback. The four simple practices can be applied across all aspects of life. Teachers appreciate that it’s easy to relate to both the real world and the day-to-day life of a school. FISH! provides guidelines that enhance their interactions, conversations, and relationships with students.
