NEWSLETTER 13 - 29th August 2023

School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS)

OVERVIEW

A positive behaviour support policy incorporates the modelling and teaching of

positive, proactive social behaviours across the school environment. Our School Wide Positive Behaviour Support framework is a data-based initiative that endeavours to adjust the environment and learning opportunities to fully support the whole child. This framework is implemented by collaborative, school-based teams using a student-centred approach to proactively support behaviour. School-wide expectations for behaviour are clearly stated, widely promoted, and frequently referenced. Both individual and school-wide learning and behaviour incidents are comprehensively assessed; learning and behaviour challenges are linked to an intervention that focuses on skill building. The effectiveness of the selected intervention is evaluated and reviewed, leading to data-based adjustments. Positive interventions that support adaptive and prosocial behaviour and build on the strengths of the student lead to an improved learning environment. Students are offered a variety of methods to help them learn and maintain appropriate behaviour.   

RATIONALE

This School Wide Positive Behaviour Policy is an intrinsic part of our school governance as it gives information on managing less desirable behaviours and promoting acceptable behaviour. 

All people have the right to be treated fairly and with kindness. We are all valued individuals and as such deserve fair treatment.  Students are encouraged to be kind, caring, thoughtful people through discussion and appropriate modelling by the adults in the school community.  Parental involvement is an integral part of life at St Patrick’s Catholic School.  We recognise that the role of the family is fundamental in the formation of positive student attitudes to each other.

At St Patrick’s Catholic School, we aim to provide a positive environment in which each child is respected and his/her right to learn is encouraged and protected. The strategies to deal with inappropriate behaviour are consistent, logical, and clear. Expectations and consequences are made familiar to all involved. The support of parents, teachers and children is needed to ensure the development of self-regulating students.

The use of SWPBS is systematic, individualised and provides strategies for achieving important social and learning outcomes while preventing problem behaviour with all students. SWPBS is a combination of effective practices to teach and encourage respectful, responsible behaviours and uses data to support decision-making. It assists in creating an individualised and supportive school climate.

At St Patrick’s Catholic School, the worth and dignity of each person is acknowledged, appreciated, celebrated and each student can grow and develop to their full potential in a Catholic atmosphere of love, through our WEST values of Welcoming, Encouraging, saying Sorry and saying Thanks and our Mercy charism of Respect, Compassion, Mercy, Hospitality.

Our WEST values and Mercy Charism are underpinned by our School Wide Positive Behaviour expectations. We focus on the behavioural expectations that are positively stated and easy to remember. In other words, rather than telling students what not to do, the school focuses on the preferred behaviours.

WHAT DOES SCHOOL WIDE POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT LOOK LIKE?

At a School Wide Level:

•           Has a common purpose and approach to discipline.
•           Clear set of positive expectations and behaviours.
•           Procedures to teaching expected behaviour.
•           Continuum of procedures for discouraging inappropriate behaviour.
•           Procedures for ongoing monitoring and evaluation.
•           Students can state the expectations.
•           Students are recognised for appropriate behaviours.
•           All staff know and use the expectations.
•           Data is collected and used for decision making.
•           It is a team-based process.
•      Expectations are displayed clearly around the school - Be a Learner, Belonging, Be Safe.

•         The Matrix with the three expectations is displayed and evident throughout the school.

Minor Incident Events - Staff Managed

Minor behaviours are undesirable behaviours that students may display when in class or in the school yard. These behaviours may negatively impact the students’ learning or relationships with their peers and staff. Minor behaviours can be managed by a classroom teacher or a yard duty teacher. Minor behaviours are teachable moments. Parents are informed of minor behaviours through the student’s diary.

Should a student continue with persistent minor behaviour, the classroom teacher can raise the incidents to a major referral and incur a consequence with a member of the Leadership Team. For major referrals that have been escalated by the classroom teacher, a phone call to parents is necessary by the classroom teacher to inform them of their child’s behaviours.

Major Incident Events - Leadership Managed

Major Incidents are intentional acts - these are handed over to a member of the Leadership Team. The student will be given a consequence that matches the level of the behaviour. A member of the Leadership Team will call the parent to inform them of the incident and the consequence.

Parents are kept informed of recurring and/or serious inappropriate behaviour using student diaries for messages, a phone call by a member of the leadership team and/or parent interviews and knowledge of the implementation of consequences; this applies to both the parents/carers of students who are non-compliant and any student who has been adversely affected by the non-compliance of another or others.

Grow Your Mind

Grow Your Mind is a positive mental health program that is about enhancing resilience and wellbeing. It is for pre and primary school aged children, educators and parents. Social and emotional education is directly linked to the brain with a playful animal analogy that resonates with young and old(er).

The program is built upon four pillars to promote mental health and wellbeing: positive psychology, social and emotional learning, public health and neuroscience. The program draws on the model of the 5 social and emotional learning competencies (self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, responsible decision making and relationship skills) to help children.

Grow Your Mind brings together a range of wellbeing topics such as growth mindset, character strength education, gratitude, mindfulness, healthy relationships and emotional regulation and ties it back to basic neuroscience.  Grow Your Mind is one of a small number of programs recognised by Beyond Blue’s BeYou directory.

For more information on Grow Your Mind see the website:

Retrieved from https://growyourmind.life/

Mersey Leven Catholic Parish 

Mersey Leven Catholic Parish is a Catholic community made up of many people who seek together to live and share the joy of the Gospel. 

Parish Office: 90 Stewart St Devonport

Wednesday - Friday 9am - 2pm

Phone: 036424 2783 

Email: merseyleven@aohtas.org.au

See the Parish website for more information

https://www.merseylevencatholicparish.com/

St Patrick’s Catholic Church

Mass Times

Wednesday Mass: 9:30am Latrobe

Sunday Mass: 5:00pm Latrobe

Have a great week!

Carmen Aylott

Principal

2023

Term 1 - Friday 3rd February - Thursday 6th April

Term 2 - Wednesday 26th April - Friday 7th July

Term 3 - *Tuesday 25th July - Friday 29th September

Term 4 - *Tuesday 17th October - Thursday 14th December

*Student Free Days Monday 25th April, Monday 24th July, Monday 16th October.

2024

Term 1 - Wednesday 7th February - Thursday 11th April 

Term 2 - Monday 29th April - Friday 5th July 

Term 3 - Tuesday 23rd July - Friday 27th September 

Term 4 - Tuesday 15th October - Wednesday 18th December 

*Student Free Days Friday 12th April, Monday 22nd July, Monday 14th October.

(Easter Break - Good Friday 29th March, Easter Monday 1st April, Easter Tuesday 2nd April. Return to school Wednesday 3rd April.)

August 

September

This year we will be celebrating our Fathers, Father Figures, Grandfathers, and significant others with a BBQ and afternoon activities. Please join us this Thursday 31st August from 12.45 pm for a sausage sizzle and organised indoor/outdoor afternoon activities. There will be sausages and a drink available for all students and our visitors. There will be no canteen on this day.  

Our Father’s Day stall will be held this Friday. There will be a variety of gift ideas available to purchase for Dads, Father figures. Pops and significant males in their lives. Kinder students will have the opportunity to purchase from the stall on Thursday. Gifts will range from $3.00-$9.00 (we are unable to change money/notes at the office). Each child will be able to purchase one item. If students wish to purchase additional items they will be able to revisit the store at recess. Thanks for supporting our fundraising efforts. The P&F team!

Congratulations to the following students who have received Student of the Week.

Prep

        Charlie for your excellent attitude and application towards everything you do.  Well done, Charlie!

Year 1

Daphnee for your positive attitude and application to all areas of your learning.

Well done Daphnee!

Year 2

Year 3

Indiana for her fantastic efforts in writing and for the kindness she displays towards others when they need assistance.

Year 4

Jacob congratulations on your quiet diligence in accepting feedback and support to improve your math understanding.

Year 5

Amelia for her improved engagement and attitude toward all learning tasks, as well as a fantastic effort for Book Week!

Great job Amelia!

Year 6

Jimmy for his thoughtfulness and welcoming attitude toward a student, who was participating in Spelling Mastery for the first time.

Congratulations to our House Raffle winners this week:

Dooley - Charlie & Casey Y

Martyn - Ruby & Lola

Byrne - Indiana x 2

Students who have registered to play in the spring basketball roster will receive their playing top (if already returned or a new player this season) by this Thursday. Roster commences this Friday 1st September. 

Rosters for the upcoming season are located through the below link:   https://www.playhq.com/basketball-tasmania/org/devonport-basketball-council-inc/dbc-primary-school-roster-spring-2023/bff911f6

For all players, there is a weekly game fee of $3.00 to be paid to the doorkeeper in the stadium, with no charge for spectators.

On Thursday, the 14th, and Friday, the 15th of September, the Mini Vinnies will be hosting a Walkathon to raise money for the Archbishop’s Samaritan Projects. The Walkathon will be conducted on the school grounds. Students may wear their school sports uniform.

Thursday 14th September: Kinder - 15 Laps 

Friday 15th September: P-2 - 25 laps / 3-6 - 50 laps

Students are invited to collect donations (sponsorship forms will be sent out this week) families will then deposit their final/tallied donations via the QKR app (canteen app). Donations will be recorded as 1 family donation. Donations will need to be finalised by Wednesday, 29th September. If you have any questions, please contact the school office.

Could families please be mindful of where they are parking for pick-up and drop-offs. We have had members of the public who live close by contacting us advising that there have been times when they have been unable to either access or leave their driveways due to vehicles being parked too closely or partly over driveways. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. 

Research shows that the first five years of a child’s life are critical for their development. The experiences they have can shape who they become as an adult. We realise the importance of these years and ensure that our SETUP sessions are full of play-based activities that allow children to investigate and learn in their own way.

Lots of time spent playing, talking, listening and interacting with you helps your child learn the skills they need for life. These skills include communicating, thinking, solving problems, moving and being with other people and children. That’s why our SETUP sessions allow children time for provocative play and exploring both on their own and with other children. We do offer arts and crafts, storytime, interactive games and activities as well as outside play.

Our sessions run every Friday from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m during school terms. Please bring a piece of fruit, a hat and drink bottle. Tea and coffee is provided for parents/carers. We hope to see you there!

A reminder to parents that St Patrick's is a Nut Allergy School and that we ask that parents not pack nuts or nut products in their children's lunchboxes.