From the Prin and the AP
SWPBS Blitz: We Play Safely in the Yard
Here's the follow-up:
We Play Safely in the Yard — Week Two
It's been great to see how students have responded to our yard focus this term. Games are starting more smoothly, there's less argument over teams, and students are more willing to step away from a situation that isn't going well.
This week, teachers will keep building on the three key behaviours from our school matrix:
- play by the rules of the game
- use our body in an appropriate way
- ask for help if needed.
Classes will continue to work through what these behaviours look like in real yard situations. That includes things like disagreeing about a rule, being left out of a game, or deciding what to do when a game stops being fun.
One thing we're hearing more of from yard duty teachers is students asking for help rather than escalating. Teachers choosing the teams has also taken some of the heat out of game starts. There are fewer arguments before the first kick, which means more time actually playing. If your child has mentioned going to a teacher when a game wasn't fair or someone was left out, that's something we'd like to see more of.
If you want to keep the conversation going at home, specific questions tend to work better than broad ones.
"Who did you play with today?" or "What was the best game you played this week?" will usually get you further than "How was playtime?", which, as we all know, often gets a one-word answer.
Another good one is, "Did you have to work something out in a game today?" Most students do at some point during the week. You could also try, "Was there a game that was hard to keep fair?" or "What did you do when something didn't go your way?"
We'll keep working on this focus over the coming weeks. Thanks for your support at home.
Winter has Arrived
As the colder weather settles in, we encourage families to ensure that children come to school dressed appropriately for the conditions. A warm school jumper can make a big difference to a child's comfort throughout the day, particularly during outdoor learning and play times, as well as during the cooler mornings.
When children are warm and comfortable, they are better able to focus, participate in learning, and enjoy their time at school.
We understand that purchasing school uniform items can sometimes place additional pressure on families. If your child requires a school jumper and this presents a challenge, please don't hesitate to contact the school. Support may be available and we are committed to working with families to ensure every child has what they need to feel comfortable, included, and ready to learn.
Arrival Times
A friendly reminds that staff supervision begins at 8:35 am each morning, with staff members positioned at the school gates. Additional staff commence yard supervision from 8:45 am.
We ask that students do not arrive at school before 8:35 am unless they are attending an approved before-school program, or are attending the Before School Care program provided by Camp Australia. Arriving after supervision has commenced helps us ensure that all children are safe and appropriately supervised.
The time before school provides a valuable opportunity for children to connect with friends, settle into the day, and prepare themselves for learning. Ensuring students arrive at an appropriate time helps create a calm and positive start to the school day for everyone.
Thank you for your support in helping us maintain a safe and orderly start to each school day.