Principals Message

Behaviour Is Taught, Just Like Learning

Welcome back to Term 2 at Trafalgar Primary School. It has been a positive and settled start to the term, with students returning ready to learn and quickly re-establishing the routines that support our classrooms to run smoothly.

As part of our ongoing focus on building a calm, consistent, and inclusive learning environment, we are continuing our newsletter series on our Behaviour Curriculum. This series is designed to give families a clear understanding of how we support students to succeed, both in their learning and in their behaviour.

At Trafalgar Primary School, we approach behaviour in the same way we approach learning; as something that is taught, practised, and improved over time.

Good behaviour is not something students either have or don’t have. It is not a personality trait. Just like reading, writing, or mathematics, behaviour is a skill that develops through clear teaching, guided practice, and consistent reinforcement.

This understanding is grounded in the work of Running the Room by education expert Tom Bennett, which informs our Behaviour Curriculum. His work highlights that students are far more successful when expectations are made explicit, practised regularly, and followed up consistently by all adults.

In practical terms, this means teachers take the time to teach routines and expectations clearly. At Trafalgar Primary School students are shown how to enter the classroom, how to listen, how to participate, and how to respond when things don’t go to plan. These behaviours are then practised, just like any other part of the curriculum, until they become familiar and automatic.

When students make mistakes, they are supported to learn from them. They are reminded of expectations, given opportunities to adjust, and supported to try again. Over time, this builds confidence and helps students develop the skills they need to be successful learners and positive members of the school community.

This approach is particularly important for students who find school more challenging. Clear, consistent teaching of behaviour removes uncertainty and helps students understand what is expected, making it easier for them to feel safe, included, and ready to learn.

By treating behaviour as something that can be taught and improved, we create classrooms where students know how to succeed and where learning can thrive.

Sincerely,

Cameron Nicholls

Principal

Proposed Industrial Action – Wednesday 20 May

I have been advised by the local Australian Education Union that industrial action is planned as part of ongoing negotiations regarding the new Victorian teachers’ enterprise bargaining agreement. A half-day strike is currently scheduled for the morning of Wednesday 20 May, with action expected to conclude at approximately 1:00pm.

At this stage, it is unclear how many staff may participate, and I will continue to monitor the situation. We will keep families informed as further details become available and will provide any updates regarding school operations closer to the date.