Deputy Principal's Message

The Importance of a Behaviour Curriculum (PBL)

A behaviour curriculum is just like an academic curriculum. Just like we explicitly teach reading, writing and maths, we intentionally teach students the social, emotional and behavioural skills they need to be successful at school. In a PBL school, this is not optional, it is essential.

A major behaviour focus since the introduction of PBL at Mother Teresa has been ‘keeping our hands, feet and objects to ourselves’. This expected behaviour is an essential behaviour expectation in primary school because young children are still developing impulse control, spatial awareness, and the social skills needed to interact safely with others. It is developmentally normal for primary-aged students to touch, bump, grab, or use objects impulsively - often not out of unkindness, but because their self-regulation skills are still maturing. That is why we explicitly teach, model, and practise what safe body boundaries look like. By teaching and supporting this expectation, we help students learn to manage their impulses, respect others’ personal space, and build safe, positive relationships. Consistent guidance ensures all children can play, learn, and move around the school safely and with confidence.

We provide ongoing support and guidance to help students improve when they make poor choices by calmly reteaching expectations, practising the right behaviours, and giving them the chance to try again. We focus on explicit teaching and coaching, because learning positive behaviour is just like learning any other skill - it takes time, consistency, and encouragement. Just as importantly, we make sure to notice and reward students when we see the expected behaviour. Acknowledging positive choices reinforces what we want to see more of and helps students understand that their efforts are recognised and valued. This balanced approach of correction and positive reinforcement helps every child grow, learn, and feel successful.

It has been pleasing to see so many token being handed to students, and to see them collecting their token to trade for rewards. Mrs Davis might have some helpers soon, as many students are saving their tokens to be the ‘Principal for an hour’. Congratulations to our students and staff on the great work that is happening with PBL at Mother Teresa.