Royal Orchids Montessori School has embraced this powerful approach to whole-child development within education; becoming one of Ghana’s first wave of SESA centers of excellence in August 2017.
The SESA Centers transform into emotionally safe environment, with the expertise to establish new conditions, culture and activities which build emotional resilience, whilst also tackling the external influencing factors relating to: discriminatory thinking and the destructive physical, psychological and emotional behaviours children mimic.
It’s been 12-months since Mrs Matilda Annan, the Proprietress of the Royal Orchids Montessori School, took the decision to transform her school into a SESA centres of excellence in child emotional resilience development – joining hundreds of other African schools within the SESA initiative.
On Saturday the 11th August 2018, the school hosted its 3rd graduation ceremony to celebrate a very important stage in the young lives of its students and to showcase their specialist approach to education which establishes the core foundations of child emotional resilience through the development of social emotional skills.
To provide the ceremony with a special insight, they invited SESA Africa Director and Emotional Resilience Expert James Kwesi Addison. He introduced the gathered audience to the importance of schools able to seamlessly build a child’s emotional resilience through their teaching practices and whole-child development culture.
The audience of parents and family members, educators and local dignitaries heard James explain “why” educators need to be equipped to build the social emotional skills in children as part of their preparation for life, education and future employment – along with their long-term health development.
The graduation was graced by various dignitaries including Mr Anime, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Coastal Belt Authority with Adelaide Entsie, the pre-school coordinator for the Asikuma Odoben Brakwa District as the Guest Speaker. The occasion was chaired by Mrs Sylvia Nkrumah, the Awutu Senya East Municipal Pre-School Coordinator and supported by Mrs Eva Bediako and Mr Amekophe.
In her address, Adelaide encouraged the Management of the Royal Orchids Montessori School not to send away children with learning disabilities from their whole-child development, rather these children should be included in admissions and help bring the best out of them.
In his post programme interview, the Ghana’s first EQ Coach reiterated his call for schools to become SESA Centers of Excellence, for children that are aware of and can manage their emotions, demonstrate caring and concern for others, establish positive relationships, make responsible decisions, and handle challenging social situations constructively.
Earlier this year, James Kwesi Addison forged a strategic alliance with Traditional Leaders in the regional houses of chiefs, to roll-out of the SESA initiative into Ghana and nationally support schools to transform into centers of excellence. This is a 10-year collaborative initiative to support Ghana’s children – led by James Kwesi Addison.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com
