You Can Do It at EPS

2007 saw the launch of our new social skills program “You Can Do It”. A program based on the research of Dr Michael Bernard which advocates the explicit teaching of the 5 foundational skills important for success in life and learning.
The five foundations being:

1) Emotional resilience
2) Confidence                             
3) Organisation
4) Persistence 
5) Getting Along

Mission statement of YCDI
You Can Do It Education’s main purpose is to support communities, schools, and homes to optimise the social, emotional and academic development of all young people. Its unique contribution is in identifying the social and emotional capabilities that all young need to acquire in order to be successful in school, experience well-being, and have positive relationships that include making contributions to others and the community (good citizenship)

It was decided to implement YCDI throughout the school, and it had to be the whole school: as one important aim of a program such as this is to build up common language and understandings across the school and for each successive year to build on the work of the previous year – just as we do in other areas such as literacy and numeracy

The five pointed star has been chosen as our symbol for You Can Do It

• Stars are associated with successful people that others admire “You’re a star”
• Reaching for the stars is an expression we use when striving for our goals
• The 5 pointed star symbolises a point for each of the 5 foundations
• Stars can be turned into a person
• Stars are bright and make the world a beautiful place
• ... and stars are just plain fun to work with

Some of the things students have said about the program:

• “YCDI taught us how to be independent and confident” Rebecca
• “Setting Goals is good so you can achieve in life” Audrey
• “YCDI is a great way for kids to learn about being resilient” Kiera