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Wellbeing

Expected Behaviours and Behaviour Management

Pearcedale Primary School’s expected behaviours are based on the school’s values of Respect, Courage, Aspire and Safe.

All classrooms use a behaviour continuum based on these expected behaviours to help students track their behaviour and stay true to the school values.

Within the Behaviour Management Policy, certain behaviours are categorised into low, medium and high-level behaviours. Teachers, students and families know what these behaviours are, and what the expected consequences are for specific behaviours. Consequences are consistent and sit alongside restorative and reflective practices.

Communication and record keeping are maintained through phone calls to carers and Compass chronicles.

school friends

Learning Resources

Behaviour Management

Respectful Relationships

Respectful Relationships is part of the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) that our school uses to promote mental health wellbeing by focusing on social, emotional and positive relationship skills.

Respectful relationships education (RRE) describes education which explicitly supports prevention of gender-based violence. The Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence found that school-based programs and culture can help reduce the rates of violence in the long term.

We know that changes in attitudes and behaviours can be achieved when positive attitudes, behaviours and equality are lived across the school community, and when classroom learning is reinforced by what is modelled in our school community.

school friends

A whole-school approach to Respectful Relationships at PPS means that all community members feel equally respected, safe and valued and have equal opportunities. PPS is a safe space where young people can learn about gender equality and respectful relationships, in and outside of the classroom and model these behaviours in the wider community.

Here at PPS, all year levels participate in Respectful Relationships lessons, with topics being shared over 2 years (except for Foundation), except for topics 7 and 8, which are taught every year.

The topics within Respectful Relationships are as follows:

1 Emotional Literacy

Students develop the ability to be aware of, understand and use information about the emotional states of themselves and others.

2 Personal and Cultural Strengths

Students develop a vocabulary to help them recognise and understand strengths and positive qualities in themselves and others. They identify the values and strengths they have learnt from role models within their families and culture to think about how this guidance helps them to treat others with respect. They consider how to draw on these strengths to engage with the challenges and opportunities that life presents.

3 Positive Coping

Students develop language around coping, critically reflect on their coping strategies and extend their repertoire of positive coping strategies.

4 Problem Solving

Students learn a range of problem-solving techniques to apply when confronting personal, social and ethical dilemmas. They engage in scenario-based learning tasks to practise their problem-solving skills in relevant situations.

5 Stress Management

Students consider the causes of stress and develop a range of self-regulation and coping strategies they can draw on to manage stressful situations.

6 Help – Seeking

Students develop skills and knowledge for peer support, peer referral and help-seeking.

7 Gender Norms and Stereotypes

Students consider the influence of gender norms on attitudes, opportunities and behaviour. They learn about gender equality, inclusion, human rights and the importance of relationships that respect people of all genders.

8 Positive Gender Relations

Students develop an understanding that verbal, physical, emotional, financial and sexual forms of violence are harmful, and that these forms of violence can also be gendered. They learn about safe and unsafe behaviours, consent and their rights to bodily autonomy. They practice strategies they can use to assert their rights to bodily autonomy to be free from coercion or violence. They develop self-care, peer support, peer referral and help-seeking skills that they can use in response to situations involving gender-based violence within family, peer, school, community or online relationships.

Learning Resources

RRRR Resources Foundation Level
RRRR Resources Level 1-2
RRRR Resources Level 3-4
RRRR Resources Level 5-6

Website Links

Berry Street Education Model (BSEM)

Trauma-informed, strength-based strategies.

BSEM is a whole school approach, backed by trauma informed practice, positive psychology and the science of learning. It helps schools build a consistent and predictable whole-school approach that supports ALL students.

The domains of the Berry Street Education Model correspond with developmental capacities that students need to be Ready to Learn. We focus on building self-regulatory ability, relational capacity and then nurture willingness to engage in learning.

berry street education model

At PPS all staff have been trained in all 5 BSEM domains and have a deep understanding of trauma-informed practice.

The five domains of the BSEM are:

Domain 1: Body

Supporting students to be Ready to Learn through strategies that build self-regulation when learning.

Domain 2: Relationship

Harnessing strong student-teacher relationships to cultivate learning and wellbeing.

Domain 3: Stamina and Engagement

Maximising student engagement in learning and prioritising stamina for academic achievement.

Domain 4: Character

Identifying, nurturing and celebrating student and community strengths to ensure positive school cultures.

Documents

PPS Welcome Circle
Positive Regard
Berry Street Education Model – Strategy board

Website Links

Breakfast Club

We are lucky enough to have the Food Bank provide PPS with healthy, nutritious food to run our Breakfast Club twice a week.

Not only does Breakfast Club give students and their families an opportunity to have a nutritious meal, but it is also an opportunity to socialise and be part of the PPS community.

Breakfast Club Tile Landscape

Details:

When: Thursday and Fridays

Time: 8:20am – 8:45am

Where: Art room

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring a family member? YES!

Can my family members eat breakfast with me? YES!

Can I have cereal and toast? YES! You can have as much or as little as you like.

Can I come on both Thursday and Friday? YES!

What if I don’t like the food? Politely say ‘no thank you’, we will not force you to eat anything!

Does it cost money to come to Breakfast Club? No, it’s free!

Can I take some fruit for later in the day? YES! Don’t forget there is also fruit up at the office for you at any time as well.

Do I need to have an adult with me? No, you can come on your own from 8:20am

What adults will be there? Volunteer teachers/staff, parents and senior students

Do I have to clean up? You are expected to put your rubbish in the bin and wipe up your table (and any other mess you make!). Your dishes will need to be taken to the sink.

Are there limits on what I can eat/drink? The only limit is one fruit cup and individual milk per child. You are welcome to as much cereal, fresh fruit or toast as you’d like!

Food Bank Menu

We have gluten free cereal options and lactose free milk available, please ask one of our volunteers if you would like any of these options.

As part of our partnership with the Food Bank we have ‘take home’ packs for families to access. If you would like to make use of this resource please speak to your classroom teacher, one of our office staff or Wellbeing. We can make a pick up/drop off arrangement that suits you. These are available at NO cost to families.

Take Home Pack

Website Links

Student Support

At PPS we provide a range of supports for our students and their families, some of which include:

  • Providing referrals to organisations and agencies
  • 1:1 and group support meetings for families and students
  • Positive Behaviour Support, Safety and Attendance Plans
  • Behaviour support
  • Information and resource sharing
  • Liasing with organisations and agencies
  • Screening and support for challenging behaviour
  • Visiting psychologist referrals

Small groups

The wellbeing team and other professionals can offer small groups of children small group work in areas such as:

  • Grief and Loss (Seasons for Growth Program)
  • Emotional literacy
  • Managing emotions
  • Social skills/peer relations

Visiting Psychologist

At PPS, we have a visiting psychologist, Mel Kemper, who provides 1:1 support to students who have a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) obtained through a GP. Mel is at the school once a week and sees students approximately every 3 weeks. If you would like to access this service, please contact the wellbeing team.

Visiting Psychologist Referral Forms