POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORTS (PBIS)/SCHOOL-WIDE POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT (SWPBS)

“At Jackson School, we support positive behaviour through teaching clear and consistent expectations in order to maximise student academic achievement to build a community of safe, respectful and responsible citizens.”

What is PBIS?

PBIS (Positive Behaviour Interventions and Supports) or SWPBS School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support is a system of interventions, strategies, and supports that positively impact school-wide and individualised behaviour planning.

‘The purpose of school-wide PBIS is to establish a climate in which appropriate behaviour is the norm.’

Jackson School’s expectations are: Respect, Responsibility and Safety. The Behaviour Expectation Matrix found below, gives explicit examples of the behaviour required to meet these expectations.

I have also included some behaviour strategies that you might find useful to use at home.

Think about things your child really enjoys and finds rewarding or motivating. What are a few of your child's favourite activities?

Keep in mind your child's strengths and interests. Set aside time to spend with your child when they are engaged in activities that matter to them.
Establish clear expectations at home/ Keep your "house rules" similar to school expectations. The key is to be fair and age appropriate when you reinforce the expectations.
Create routines for your family. Organise the day so y our child knows what is happening. Be clear about changes or new events like doctors appointments or visitiors. Give your child a helpful transition warning to let them know what is coming next. Utilize the PBIS Home Matrix work sheet.
Anticipate challenges and plan accordingly. Preventing challenging behaviour is easier than addressing it in the moment. Know what things or times of day trigger your child to engage in challenging behaviour. Choose activities where your child will experience success.
Try to be consistent and know how you are going to react. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
Model the behaviour you want your child to learn.
Communicate clearly what behaviour you want your child to demonstrate. Phrase directions in the positive, telling your child what you want them to do, not what you don't what them to.
Talk about feelings and use visuals to help your child understand. Tell them you understand how they feel.
Look behind the behaviour and see what your child may be trying to tell you. Try to remember that however a child is behaving, the child is doing the best he or she can at the moment is time.
Use positive reinforcement often. Genuine, specific praise a powerful effect on your children's behaviour. This includes their efforts to work hard at following your directions and any small steps in the right direction.

GET ACTIVE VICTORIA

In this latest article from the Get Active Victoria website, we get tips on how to find the right gym for your family’s needs.

How to find the gym that works for you

In this article, we’ll look at the questions to ask to discover a gym that works for you… and trust us, there’s one out there for everyone.

How can someone who’s not so familiar with gyms find a gym that works for them? All those weights, machines, classes, and fit people can seem intimidating. If you’d like to find a gym but aren’t sure where to start, try these tips.

1. Define what you enjoy

Most people join a gym to get fitter, stronger and healthier through exercise. Yet, with so many different ways to exercise at the gym, our tip is to begin with activities you enjoy and an environment that makes you comfortable.

If learning something new like Pilates, yoga, Zumba, or boxing sounds appealing, then choose a gym that offers these classes. Decide if you would you prefer a smaller gym or a larger one. And if you need one-to-one guidance from a personal trainer, it’s worth seeking out a trainer with whom you click.

Ask yourself this question: how do you want to feel at your gym, and where can you find that vibe?

Make a list of anything else you need from your gym like childcare, parking, particular opening times or accessible facilities.

Once you know more specifically what it is you want from a gym it’s easier to find what you’re looking for.

2. Seek personal recommendations

The best way to find out about the gyms in your neighbourhood is to ask others about their experiences attending them.

If you’re a Facebook member, then it’s likely there’s a community page devoted to your area where people ask for recommendations on all sorts of things – restaurants, services, babysitting, you name it. Create a post asking for gym recommendations. The more specific you can be about the type of gym experience you’re after, the better.

For some, information about a gym’s equipment and class offerings might be most important. However, if you’re new to the gym, then asking about the gym’s community and culture might take priority. Affordability is also something you may wish to understand before you check a gym out in person.

If Facebook isn’t your thing, there are other ways to learn more about the gyms in your area. Talk to friends and acquaintances; also check Google reviews online.

3. Make an appointment to visit

Next, it’s time to check out your preferred gym in person. It’s worth phoning first to make an appointment, that way you can be sure a staff member is available to show you around the facilities and run you through classes and membership offers.

When you show up at the gym remember to check out the parking, who else is there and ‘the vibe’. Are the staff kind and friendly? Do the yoga mats smell clean? Do you think you’ll feel comfortable exercising there? You could even bring a friend to this visit for company and a confidence boost.

What’s important to know about gyms, especially if this is new territory for you, is that they are all different. They may look similar in terms of equipment, but each will have a different feel. Try to visit more than one gym at this stage, that way you can compare and make an informed choice.

4. Get the right deal

Affordability is a factor in every person’s decision to join a gym and there’s a lot to weigh up.

When visiting gyms, make sure you ask about cost – here’s a few questions you may wish to include:

What is the membership fee? Is it annual, or monthly?
Is there a sign-up fee?
Is there a minimum term, or can I cancel at any time? Is there a cancellation fee?
What does it cost to visit on a casual basis?
Instead of a longer membership, are there entry passes with a set number of visits or days?
Do they have concession prices?
Are there any specials or discounts on offer?

Most gyms will also offer trial memberships at reduced rates (or even free) for people to try before they buy. If you like the ‘energy’ of a gym then ask if they offer a trial deal and take advantage of it before signing up for a longer membership.

And, if you are interested in a membership, ask for a copy of a sample contract, including the terms, fees and charges, that you can study at home before committing.

And finally…

Remember that asking the right questions will help you find a gym that works for you, helping you to feel more motivated and get active.

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