Learning & Wellbeing @ ASPS

ASPS Maths Practice Showcased: Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics

Last week, members of the ASPS leadership, Rhian ap Rees, Juliette Castelino and Kathy Arnold, were guest presenters at the Riversdale Principal Network Meeting (all Boroondara and Whitehorse Schools). Our school's presentation was focused on our work in Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics. This work, guided by renowned reseacher and practioner, Peter Liljedahl, is transforming student enagement in complex collaborative problem solving. ASPS teachers have shared the following reflections:

You can find out more about this work via the link below. 

Positive Behaviour Support and Restorative Classrooms

As part of the recent curriculum day, our school's Mental Health and Wellbeing Leaders, Ella Tregaskis and Darien Hunte, led our staff through an interactive workshop focused on our school's Prevent, Teach, Reinforce approach to support positive student behaviours. Throughout the day, our teachers explored the preventative and proactive strategies used to support all students in being Ready to Learn. Teachers also explored ways in which they can build trust and effective relationships (teacher to student and student to student) through restorative, strength based approaches. 

The following short video is a great starting point for those wanting to understand the basis for taking a restorative approach. As a school, how we engage with students during times of conflict and challenge is central to how we want our students to approach conflict in their personal relationships now and when they are adults. Using our ASPS Positive Behaviour Expectations, we also take time to reframe challenging behaviours as resilient, respectful, compassionate and learning behaviours that we would like to see more often.