Wellbeing

SWPBS: House Tokens at WPS

House Tokens are a part of Whittlesea Primary School’s Tier 1 positive reinforcement systems. Staff give house tokens when students demonstrate positive school behaviour expectations. 

The idea is that house tokens are handed out ‘free and frequent’ for all positive behaviours that don’t require a Golden Ticket, e.g. lining up safely, following teacher instructions, picking up rubbish off the floor or speaking respectfully to your peers. 

House tokens are collated each week by House Captains and added to an ongoing recording sheet. At the end of each Term, the house with the most tokens is part of a ‘House Reward’ to be decided by House Captains and the Wellbeing Team.

Here is the current total for House Points so far in Term 2:

Wellbeing & Family:  International Family Day

International Family Day is a day dedicated to families and their important role. It raises awareness of the issues families face and highlights their importance in society. Celebrating it with kids offers a great opportunity to teach them about family relationships, good values, and togetherness.

Connection Over Perfection: Using family time to foster resilience.

Daily life's busyness, school runs, homework, work commitments, and a never-ending to-do list make it easy to feel like we're not doing “enough” for our children. But here’s the good news: it’s not about doing things perfectly. What matters most is connection. Research shows children develop emotional strength and resilience through consistent, meaningful relationships. That means small, everyday moments spent together, even five minutes at a time, have a lasting impact.

Tiny Moments, Big Impact

You don’t need to plan elaborate outings or perfect meals. What builds resilience is when children feel seen, heard, and valued. Some simple ways to connect:

• Roses and Thorns: At dinner or bedtime, ask each family member to share a “rose” (highlight) and a “thorn” (challenge) from their day.
• One-on-One Time: Spend 5–10 minutes with each child doing something they choose, colouring, kicking a ball, or playing cards.
• Mindful Moments: Pause for a quiet cuddle, a story, or even a shared laugh. These moments calm the nervous system and build trust.

Connection Beats Correction

When your child is having a tough time, the most helpful response is connection. Before correcting behaviour, try a gentle moment of empathy: “That was hard. I’m here for you.” Regulation comes before reasoning, especially with little people.

Let Go of “Perfect”

You don’t need perfect words or calm voices all the time. What matters is the repair—going back to your child and saying, “I’m sorry I got upset. Let’s try again.” This model of resilience is better than any lecture.

A Challenge for Families

Pick one moment each day to pause and connect, no pressure, just presence. 

Give it a try this week!