SWPBS

The week 9 & 10 focus for SWPBS is Responsibility - Report problems I cannot solve to a yard duty teacher or a Friend O’Leader.

At school, we are continuing to build our students’ skills in managing friendship problems and knowing when to ask for help. Students are learning to recognise what kind of problem they are having, try an appropriate strategy and seek help when needed. We encourage students to treat others with respect and think about whether they can solve a problem themselves before asking an adult for help.

If a student is having a Friendship Fire, they can try to “Talk it Out” with their friend when everyone is ready. If talking it out isn’t working, they can walk away and find a Friend O’Leader. For all other problems that they cannot solve, students should report the problem to a yard duty teacher. This helps children develop independence and problem-solving skills while also knowing that asking a trusted adult for help is always appropriate when a problem is too big to manage alone.

How can families help at home?

Families can support these skills by giving children opportunities to practise problem-solving in everyday situations. When your child comes to you with a friendship problem, try asking questions such as:

“What kind of problem is it?”
“Is this something you can solve yourself?”
“What could you try first?”
“Have you tried talking it out with your friend and telling them how you feel?”

It can also be helpful to pause before immediately solving the problem for your child. Give them time to suggest a solution and encourage them to have a go where it is safe and appropriate. Practising these skills at home helps children become more confident in managing small problems at school and understanding when it is important to seek adult help.

Our problem-solving steps:

I treat others with respect.
I recognise what kind of problem I have.
Friendship Fire? Try to Talk it Out when my friend is ready.
If it isn’t working: Walk away and find a Friend O’Leader or give them some space and revisit it later, for instance the following snack/playtime or the next day when everyone is calmer.
For other problems I cannot solve: Go to the yard duty teacher.