Adelaide’s Growing with Gratitude schools program has this week made its 500^th school visit.

The health and wellbeing program is being supported  the State Government which means even more South Australian kids, particularly in regional areas, are benefitting from the program.

The program is delivered by the Crows’ community team to approximately 40,000 kids each year. It aims to help teachers, students and their families build and protect their mental health through developing gratitude, kindness, empathy, optimism and mindfulness.

The 500^th school visit milestone was reached on Wednesday when the program was delivered to students at Kidman Park Primary School.

Crows Chief Operating Officer Nigel Smart said the Club was thrilled with the uptake of the program.

“Our community team has been delivering this important program to South Australian schools for close to three years and the feedback from both teachers and students has been extremely positive,” Smart said.

“Through the program we are determined to provide as many children as possible with the tools and skills they need to lead healthy, successful and productive lives.

“We are extremely grateful for the support the State Government has provided to assist us to continue to grow the program and reach even more students across South Australia.

“It is important we teach children these skills and habits to promote positive thoughts and strengthen overall wellbeing.”

Minister for Education John Gardner says the partnership with the Club is a valuable part of the Department’s student wellbeing programs.

“The Growing with Gratitude Program empowers primary-school aged children with valuable tools and skills to help them lead healthy, successful and productive lives,” said Mr Gardner.

“This contributes to the Education Department’s Wellbeing for Learning and Life Framework, which supports students to be more resilient and engaged in positive experiences, form stronger friendships, be more optimistic and show increased self-esteem.

“I commend the Adelaide Football Club on delivering 500 visits to South Australian schools as part of the program, and I look forward to continuing this important partnership, to which the Government has committed until 2020.”

The Growing with Gratitude program is based around learning positive life skills through both verbal and physical activities led by trained staff.

Through the program, students learn to:

- Be more resilient, relaxed and engage in positive experiences
- Form stronger friendships and exhibit kindness more frequently
- Be more optimistic and show increased self-esteem; and
- Focus on academic achievement and improve decision making.

The Growing with Gratitude program was developed by former Immanuel Primary School teacher Ashley Manuel and is currently accessed by schools and families in 44 countries. It is also linked with the Australian Curriculum (ACARA): Health and PE and the Personal, Social and Physical Education Scope & Sequence (PSPE) in the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and also follows the PERMA guidelines.