Specialist Snapshot

In Semester 1, the Specialist Team have been working hard to review our classroom practices and policies to ensure we have consistent, predictable routines and clear expectations that align with recent professional development (eg. Berry Street Education Model) and our school values. As a result we'd like to share some important updates with you. If you have any questions  regarding any of the information below, please do not hesitate to contact Genevieve Ellt or Stephanie Martin.

First Five 

This poster outlines the First Five steps students follow when entering all Specialist classrooms. The language and steps are very similar across all Specialist subject areas, with only minor adjustments (such as wording or location) to suit each specific space. 

At the beginning of the year, Specialist teachers explicitly taught and practised these steps with their students, and this routine is now well embedded across all Specialist classes. As a result, students are entering rooms in a much calmer and more settled manner, allowing for a smoother and more effective start to lessons.

Minor & Major Behaviour Process

The below processes were developed and introduced last year and have been referred to and reinforced alongside our School Values - Be a Learner, Be Respectful and Be Resilient -  in classes since then. Recently, we have updated the way these behaviours are recorded and communicated so we can better inform parents/carers and track patterns of student behaviour. This allows us to take proactive, positive, and supportive steps in consultation with classroom teachers and leadership if needed. 

As part of this process, parents/carers will now receive notifications via Compass when a Minor or Major Behaviour entry is made in a Specialist class. If you receive one of these notifications, we encourage you to use it as a conversation starter with your child to reflect on our LPS school values and what they mean in practice.

Positive behaviour and participation will continue to be acknowledged through Green Compass entries to celebrate student effort and success.

Final Five

This poster introduces the Final Five steps students follow at the end of all Specialist classes. Like the First Five, the language and steps are very similar across all Specialist subjects in order to create consistency and predictability for students and teachers. 

The Final Five has been newly developed last term to help establish a clear, calm exit routine and smooth transition process. Specialist teachers began to introduce and practise these steps with their classes in the final weeks of last term, and this focus will continue into Term 3. We are looking forward to seeing the positive impact this consistent routine will have across our lessons.