Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviour

Section 1: Student Wellbeing

At St Brigid’s, supporting student wellbeing is a central part of our approach to education. We recognise that to achieve success academically, we also need to help our students feel connected to our school community, develop an awareness of their emotions and actions, as well as understand how their actions affect others.

Principles that inform our approach include:

  • Treating everyone in our community with unconditional positive regard, respect and love.
  • Understanding that behaviour is a form of communication and that there is always a reason for an action.
  • Focusing always on what we can learn from every situation to improve for next time.
  • Developing strong professional relationships across our whole school community.

Section 2: Our Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviour

St Brigid’s has developed its approach to supporting positive behaviour using a ‘Whole School Approach to positive behaviour.
We have expectations, a consequence framework and procedures across our whole school community, which has helped create a safe and positive school environment for our community.

Our approach is also informed by the Berry Street Education Model which supports schools in creating a well rounded approach to supporting positive behaviour, as well as social and emotional learning.

 

Section 3: Our School Wide Expectations

Across our whole school community we have four expectations that guide the way we act. All students, teachers, administrative staff and parents are expected to live out these expectations in our community.

knowledge_strength_faith_hospitality.jpg

Section 4: Community Time (Buddy Program)

Our Buddy Program at St. Brigid’s is a structured human relations program where Prep students meet regularly with students from the senior grades who guide them through an activity.

The Buddies work together focusing on areas such as the creative arts, mathematics, spelling and reading. This provides a two-way advantage for students. The older students are able to provide a mentoring role to younger students and the younger students are exposed to the capabilities of the more senior students.

The Buddy Program has been very successful in developing positive relations between younger and older students in our school. The Buddy Program assists the students settle in and become familiar with faces outside their everyday classroom environment. The Prep students are eagerly assisted by the big buddies who provide a helping hand to ensure they feel safe, happy and secure in an environment that is very new and exciting.

Studies have shown when people have strong relationships within a community such as a family, friends, school and interest groups they are more resilient to disappointment. To be resilient a young person needs to feel connected to their peers at home and at school and have a positive self-image. An important part of building resilience is to foster social networks.

At St. Brigid’s School the Buddy Program: 

  • Promotes a sense of community and belonging in the school;
  • Promotes acceptance of others;
  • Promotes cross gender and cross age friendships;
  • Builds self-esteem;
  • Provides social and academic benefits for student;
  • Provides mentoring opportunities;
  • Provides leadership opportunities, and
  • Fosters a sense of fun and enjoyment in learning.

Some of the Buddy Program activities at St. Brigid’s are:

  • Shared reading;
  • Technology/construction;
  • Computer support and mentoring;
  • Playground games;
  • Gross motor activities
  • Puppetry;
  • Special celebrations;
  • Gardening activities;
  • Performing;
  • Shared lunch, and
  • Thinking skills.

 

Section 5: Social and Emotional Learning

In our approach we also recognise that childhood is a time where children are learning about the world and are developing their social and emotional skills.
At St Brigid’s we explicitly teach these social and emotional skills to help students develop important lifelong skills.

Our explicit teaching of wellbeing is drawn for the Personal and Social Capability of the Victorian curriculum. This covers areas such as self-awareness, emotional literacy, developing resilience, social awareness, collaboration, as well as relationships and diversity.

Student Wellbeing

In St. Brigid’s School community your child will experience a supportive environment where our dedicated, professional staff encourage each student to feel happy and confident in developing positive self-esteem.

At St. Brigid’s we believe in the importance of effective wellbeing practices which lead us, as a school community, to promote positive relationships between all members. We endeavour to create a meaningful home/school relationship, whereby parents and staff work in partnership for the benefit of all the students.

At St. Brigid’s we value:

  • Respect for school rules
  • Consideration, respect and friendliness towards students, staff, parents and visitors
  • Responsibility for assigned duties
  • Respect for school equipment and property
  • Punctuality
  • Self-discipline in class, the playground and while travelling to and from school.

St. Brigid’s Student Wellbeing Coordinator collaborates with teachers, parents and professionals to provide appropriate support for students with a range of special needs, including academic, social, emotional and behavioural/medical.

We also have a school counsellor onsite one day per week. This counsellor is funded by the school and assists students and parents.