Well-being News

School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) at South Melbourne Park Primary School

At South Melbourne Park Primary School, we are committed to creating a safe, positive and supportive learning environment where every student can thrive. As part of our School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) approach, we have introduced a token recognition system to acknowledge and celebrate students who consistently demonstrate our school values: Be Kind, Be Responsible and Be an Active Learner.

Rather than simply praising students with a "good job," staff provide specific, explicit feedback so students understand exactly what they have done well. For example, a teacher might say, "Thank you for being responsible and walking your bike through the school yard," or "You were kind by including someone in your game at recess." This helps students make clear connections between their actions and our school values, reinforcing the positive behaviours we want to see across our school.

When students receive a token, they are invited to place it in the reward container for the whole-school reward they would most like to earn. Students have ownership of the process by voting for their preferred reward, with current options including:

• Wearing slippers in the classroom for the day
• Free-choice seating during a learning session
• A buddy learning session with another class

Since introducing the system, our students have worked together to earn a range of exciting whole-school rewards, including:

• Movie Afternoon
• Teachers Dress as Students Day
• Soft Toy Day
• Gym Open at Lunchtime
• Additional STEM Session
• Free Dress Day

The token system is about much more than earning rewards. Research shows that recognising positive behaviour with specific feedback and occasional rewards increases students' engagement, confidence and sense of belonging. While rewards provide an initial incentive, they also help students experience the positive outcomes of making good choices. Over time, these positive experiences contribute to the development of intrinsic motivation, where students make responsible, kind and respectful choices because they value them not simply because a reward is available.

We are incredibly proud of the way our students have embraced SWPBS and continue to demonstrate our school values each day. Thank you to our families for supporting these expectations at home. Together, we are building a positive school culture where every student is recognised, valued and encouraged to be their very best.

Johanne Abbott

Well-being