Positive Behaviour Support

Hello Everyone!

This will be my last article for PBS this year. I have made the difficult decision to take a break from leading the Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviour Support. During the last three and a half years, we have worked diligently to develop our school-wide expectations, understand, support and manage student behaviour and support and upskill families and teachers within the Personal and Social Capability.  We have introduced our Year 6 student Shine Leaders, made SHINE visible across the school and I’m sure you will agree, each and every student can tell you confidently what it means to SHINE at St Catherine’s.

As human beings, all we do is behave. We think, feel, talk and act in order to communicate and fulfill our needs. Our basic human needs are to belong, be cared for and loved, to experience autonomy and freedom of choice to live happy and healthy lives, to have fun and shared experiences which connect us to the people who are significant in our lives and to grow in empathy, resilience, compassion and acceptance of our own and others short-comings.  Our school-wide expectations are indeed expectations for all of us; parents, teachers, students, leaders, community members. When we work together to support each other in developing these skills and qualities, we are setting our children up for life.

On Monday, students in 3S6 had the opportunity to build cubbies inside. Students used fabric and furniture to create a quiet space in which they spent time reading a favourite book with a teddy brought from home. I do this each year, whichever year level I teach and my observations of how students build their cubbies always fascinates me. There are so many benefits for child development when they’re encouraged to make a cubby. Cubbies can be made inside or outside and with the Winter holidays coming up, why not suggest the idea to your children? Take a moment to check out these short articles about cubbies.

Why Play Cubbies are Important for Child Development - Little Chief

Why Kids Build Cubbies & Forts

This week our Shine focus is Notice and Own Our Actions when we Transition / Move throughout the school. When we are tired at the end of term, it becomes important for us to maintain a sense of calm and consistency.

Upon our return in Term Three, our Shine focus will be Engage in Learning as we make the transition from holidays to a new term of Learning. 

I encourage you to enjoy the rest! Rug up and get outside as much as you can, build cubbies, play, garden and bake. Stay safe, have respect, interact appropriately with others, notice and own your words and actions and engage in learning all around you.

Warm regards

Yveie Tonks
Leader for Positive Behaviour Support Implementation

From our SHINE Leaders