be applied to the betterment of the community. And this, of course, is where values form such an important part of our school culture and curriculum. The values we impart give students direction and purpose. They give them a framework in which to operate and choose the type of life they will lead. Knowledge, thinking skills, and Habits of Mind are directionless without the guidance of the values we instil in students. Taken together, these four key elements are critical to how schools work. The content tells students what is important about the world. Thinking Skills enable them to interact with that knowledge. The Habits of Mind give them ways of working that are typical of successful people, and the values we impart give students a sound moral and ethical compass to direct their endeavours. As curriculums change to accommodate new knowledge and discoveries; as new initiatives are introduced to schools to improve learning; as governments introduce new frameworks and testing regimes, the relationship of these 4 key components remain the same. Understanding these relationships helps calm the storm of change that sweeps through schools. This year's focus on raising academic standards is really about the Habits of Mind of Striving For Accuracy and Persistence . Next year's focus on Global Citizenship is placing an emphasis on the values. The introduction of a new Thinking Strategy is just another way to enhance the cognitive skills of students. One of the great benefits of this model, and the clarity the Habits