Free to Flourish

A story of who we are and who we are becoming

Everyone has a story. Our story reminds us of who we are, and who we are becoming. Free to Flourish is the story for Lutheran schools and early childhood services, grounded in Christian beliefs and values and a catalyst for ongoing improvement and innovation. Our learning story inspires a deep understanding of who we are, and how we are created for relationship with God and all creation. We seek to honour the wisdom of our First Nations People as we grow appreciation of the interconnectedness of all. Embracing the future with confidence, our learning communities grow learners who are compassionate, purposeful, adventurous and relational. We are free to flourish.

Adventurous

We believe that we are called into the adventure of exploring the unknown. With hopeful expectancy and a sense of awe-filled wonder; we journey through the mystery of life together.

Learners are innately curious and creative. Delving into big ideas, they co-construct their journey of discovery, creating and reflecting as they make sense of and shape the world around them.

Learning is playful and challenging; it responds to the unique needs and interests of the individual. It fosters the learner’s curiosity about the world around them and their place within it.

Our learning communities are transformative and safe places that invite courageous exploration. They are places of collaboration and interconnectedness, where learning is experiential and immersive.

Compassionate

We believe that learning opens our hearts and minds to the diversity of human perspectives, experiences, and wisdom traditions. It develops our capacity for compassion, selflessness, and advocacy.

Learners engage in respectful and open dialogue, and are cogently aware of inequity and bias. Their curiosity is grounded in deep understanding of the inherent dignity of all humans, and enacted in service and advocacy.

Learning is underpinned by love and justice, so that learners are supported as they critically reflect on ways of seeing and thinking, and trust their own growing capacity for discernment.

Our learning communities are ethical places of inclusion, understanding, compassion, justice, and love.

Purposeful

We believe that learning is essential to our humanness and every learner grows as they are nurtured to live and act purposefully.

Learners grow and develop understanding of their abilities, gifted by God. As they learn what matters to them and their communities, they have rich input into their learning.

Learning is about finding purpose and is participative, interactive, and dialogic. Purposeful learning shapes and is shaped by identity, intent and action. It empowers learners to contribute to human and ecological flourishing.

Our learning communities are places where learners are reflective agents making unique contributions to enrich the world.

Relational

We believe in the interconnectedness of everything. Interdependent relationships are vital for the flourishing of all creation.

Learners grow in awareness of who they are, and who they are becoming. Called to many vocations, they serve the needs of the world.

Learning is deeply relational. A focus on holistic learning nurtures discernment and deep connections to God and all creation.

Our learning communities are places of belonging where learners are seen, heard and known. Interdependent relationships empower learners to pursue love, reconciliation and regeneration so that they embrace the future with hope and confidence.

Leading effective organisation and management

In Lutheran schools and early childhood services, roles, responsibilities and procedures are clearly articulated so that staff can participate in its smooth and efficient operation. Data and knowledge management methods and technologies are used to ensure that resources (human, physical, technological and financial) are efficiently organised and managed to provide an effective, safe and caring, growth-oriented learning and working environment. Strategic planning ensures the ongoing improvement and sustainability of the school/early childhood service. Best practice is built upon effective collaboration between the governing body, staff, students, families, church and others.

Lutheran Education is based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and informs all learning and teaching, all human relationships and all activities. Growing Deep consist of 5 elements:

Our Foundation provides the Lutheran lens through which we view all that occurs in Lutheran Education.

The Vocational Practices describe the work that we all undertake.

Capabilities describe the way we work.

Our Culture describes the environment we are aspiring to create in Lutheran Education.

The culmination and fruits of our work is that we are all Free to Flourish.

Resources

Download PDF file of all cards here

You can request more options for digital copies of the Free to Flourish cards by emailing LEA@lutheran.edu.au

I lead by word and deed simply because I am here doing what I do. If you are also here doing what you do, then you also exercise leadership of some sort.
Parker Palmer