Merbein P-10 College Newsletter

Acting Principal's Report

Mr Chris Grimmer

Framework for Improving School Outcomes

This term we allocated two professional learning sessions to complete the self-evaluation relating to the ‘Framework for Improving School Outcomes’ in readiness for our school review in term four 2019.  Staff worked in small groups to complete three elements of this evaluation and our leadership team completed the fourth element. I am currently adding the evidence we used to make our decisions onto the department website in readiness for next term. At this stage we do not have a confirmed date for our review in fourth term but parents, students and staff will all have the opportunity to provide feedback to the review team.

School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS)

What is School Wide Positive Behaviour Support?

School Wide Positive Behaviour Support is a school-wide process for developing and explicitly teaching appropriate and positive behaviours. SWPBS comprises of a broad range of strategies and process for achieving important student social and learning outcomes, while also preventing problem behaviour among students.

Introducing, modeling and reinforcing positive social behaviour is an important step of a student's educational experience. Teaching behavioural expectations and acknowledging students for following them is a much more positive approach than waiting for misbehaviour to occur before responding.

Why it is an important focus at Merbein P-10?

  • Some students have not yet learnt how to behave appropriately, but they can learn.
  • Punishment, especially when used inconsistently and in the absence of other positive strategies is ineffective.  Introducing, modeling and reinforcing positive social behaviour is an important step of a student's educational experience. 
  • Students learn appropriate behaviour in the same way a child who doesn’t know how to read learns to read, through instruction, practice, feedback, and encouragement.
  • Teaching behavioural expectations and rewarding students for following them is a much more positive approach than waiting for misbehaviour to occur before responding. 
  • Supports the school in establishing a climate in which appropriate behaviour is the norm and students can thrive.

In the coming weeks the school will have SWPBS Posters that will illustrate the Expected Behaviours that encourage effective learning through the development of a positive, calm and welcoming environment. The Expected Behaviours were created in consultation with school staff and students.