Learning and Teaching 

On Tuesday, Kayla Pepper and I attended professional learning with Tom Bennett on . Tom Bennett, one of the world’s leading voices in student behaviour and school culture, recently spoke about something that resonated deeply with the work we are continuing to strengthen at Lysterfield Primary School: flourishing cultures are ones where everyone feels safe, calm, successful and valued. When these conditions are in place, students are far more likely to learn, participate and thrive.

A key message from Tom Bennett’s session was that predictability creates safety. Children do better when they know what to expect, what is expected of them, and what comes next. This is one of the reasons why routines matter so much at LPS and why The Pegasus Way continues to be such an important part of our school culture.

Families will notice that we place a strong emphasis on routines, consistency and shared expectations across classrooms. Whether it is our entry routines in the morning, transitions between lessons, shared timetables, or the way teachers gain students’ attention, these routines are not about being rigid for the sake of it. Calm, predictable routines reduce friction, lower stress and create more space for learning, connection and success.

As parents ourselves, we know routines matter far beyond the classroom, too. In our house, my daughters and I have developed a very particular routine before dance competitions. We know who does hair, who organises costumes, who packs snacks, and the order everything happens in! Whenever my husband kindly steps in to “help”, it sometimes throws the routine slightly off balance, and suddenly everyone feels a little less calm and organised. It is a light-hearted reminder that predictable routines help people feel settled and confident, especially children.

At LPS, The Pegasus Way is designed to create those same feelings of calmness, belonging and success for our students each day. When students know the routines and expectations, they can focus less on uncertainty and more on learning, friendships and growth. Strong routines also allow classrooms to feel calm, positive and at ease because less time is spent managing confusion or disruption.

Tom Bennett reminded schools that culture is built through the small things we do consistently every day. We are proud of the calm, caring and purposeful culture we continue to build together at LPS and grateful for the partnership we share with families in helping every child feel safe, valued and ready to learn.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Kristine Roose | Assistant Principal - Learning & Teach