Learning Partnership

This Week's Learning Bulletin: 

This week's bulletin highlights the importance of Wellbeing throughout the school. The Department of Education's Framework for Learning positions Wellbeing alongside Learning and is not secondary to academic learning. In fact we know, that if children are upset about something, whether it happened before school or during the school day, they are not ready to learn and are not in a positive frame of mind that is ready for learning. We refer to that as not being in the Green Zone. 

Our staff were afforded a Professional Learning opportunity at our staff meeting on Tuesday on Restorative Practices. Restorative Practice is an approach to behaviour and relationships in schools that focuses on building a positive, respectful community and repairing harm when conflicts or issues arise.

Instead of relying solely on punishment, it encourages students to reflect on their actions, understand the impact on others, and take responsibility for making things right.  In practice, this might involve structured conversations, class circles, or facilitated discussions where students have the chance to express their feelings, listen to different perspectives, and work towards a resolution.

The goal is to strengthen relationships, build empathy, and create a supportive school culture where every student feels valued and respected. We also teach children that in every situation there will be another person's perspective that needs to be considered and heard

In the words of Roy T Bennett, "The greatest problem with communication is that we don't listen to understand.  We listen to reply. When we listen with curiosity, we don't listen with the intent to reply. We listen for what's behind the words".  Before you approach the next conversation about wrongdoing take a mindful moment to summon your strength of curiosity and see where it leads you.

Enjoy reading about what each class level is teaching the children in their timetabled wellbeing session and you may even like to use the languauge and practices at home.

Rochelle Cukier

Principal

rochelle.cukier@education.vic.gov.au