UPPER PRIMARY students from Alberton Primary School participated in the Power to be Positive Program at Alberton Oval during term three.

The program is a wellbeing and resilience program that provides children the skills and knowledge necessary to get through life challenges, and is based on Professor Martin Seligman’s PERMA+ model, which identifies the basis of happiness and wellbeing.

While Power to be Positive often works to build resilience in children of defence families, the program helped Alberton Primary School students talk about the transition into secondary school next year.

"The kids at Alberton talked about how the transition to high school can be an exciting but also anxious time," says Jake Battifuoco, the Power's senior youth programs coordinator.

"The program provided skills students can use to build their resilience and better prepare for such challenges in their lives." 

Skills that were taught included identifying and using character strengths, positive thinking, gratitude and mindfulness.

Maddy and Owen were two students who participated in the program, and are both looking forward to the next adventure in their schooling.

"I learnt about my personal strengths and how I can use them," says Maddy.

"Power to be Positive showed me how I can change my negative thoughts into positive thoughts and how positive thoughts are much more helpful.

"I learnt ways I can stay positive, such as keeping a gratitude journal which makes me stop and think about all the amazing things in my life."

"I enjoyed all the useful lessons about our strengths and the tour of the club," says Owen. 

"I leant that I use teamwork outside of sports, bravery in the risks I take, perspective and judgement a whole lot more than I thought."

The session also included a tour of the Port Adelaide Football Club, kick-and-catch in the indoor facility and a football clinic on Alberton Oval.