Student Council Update 

On Thursday, 13th February, the new 2020 Semester One Student Council had its first meeting for the year. The meeting was expertly chaired by our two school captains, Nina and Max. The Student Council discussed different ideas that were suggested by their classmates.  Initiatives such as changing the bell music, pumping up school soccer balls and introducing a slushie day were put forward.  The council discussed and prioritised these ideas.  

Some Student Council members also volunteered to form small groups to perform short skits about how or when to use the Buddy Benches.  Stay tuned for these at morning assemblies over the next few weeks!  

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) 

Throughout 2019, St Joseph’s was on a journey of becoming a Positive Behaviour for Learning school.  Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) is a comprehensive, integrated whole school approach to student wellbeing and behaviour.  PBL is a process that supports school leadership teams to create positive learning environments that enable student learning and wellbeing. 

Successful implementation of PBL is underpinned by the support and commitment of the whole school community.  

PBL is based on a three-tiered continuum of prevention and intervention: 

• Tier 1 - Universal prevention: school-wide and classroom systems for all students, staff and settings.
• Tier 2 - Targeted interventions: small group systems for students at-risk behaviourally and academically. 
• Tier 3 - Intensive interventions: systems for students with high-risk behaviour and/or learning needs. 

From extensive consultation with students and staff, four expectations for positive behaviour were identified.  They are:-

• Act Safely 
• Be Respectful 
• Care for All 
• Do your Best 

Dash the Dolphin is our specific school PBL mascot and in the weeks to come we’ll be organising special Dash signage.  This signage around the school is to promote positive behaviours, but also to prompt conversations if a student isn’t keeping to the expectations.  

Later in the term you may also hear of your child receiving a ‘Dash token’.  These tokens will be given out by staff as they see students doing the right thing.  Twice a term, as the tokens are gathered in sporting houses, we’ll be rewarding the colour house which has the most.  These rewards might be as simple as a picnic lunch on the field, extra playtime or an ice block.  We’re hoping that this creates some excitement amongst the students as it is another opportunity for students to be recognised for following our four school expectations. 

Being a PBL school, staff and last year's Student Council reflected on and formulated a flowchart to follow if students do not keep to one of our expectations.  This flowchart asks staff to define ‘minor’ and ‘major’ incidents and details a consistent procedure for all to follow.  Please take the time to read over the flowchart. 

It takes time to implement such a school wide initiative and having the support of all members of our school community is crucial to its success.  We also recognise that PBL is something new for the community and there may be implementation challenges.  This is something that we will be  journeying through together.  Over the coming term we will be sharing with students about St Joseph’s being a PBL school and really focusing on the positive aspects of acknowledging positive behaviour in the classroom and the playground.