Respectful Relationships & Wellbeing News

Berry Street and Respectful Relationships

Berry Street Welcome Circles 

The staff at Sacred Heart have been really privileged to do the Berry Street training over the last 18 months. Its been a great way to set up our classrooms so that they are welcoming and calm. One of the great things we are implementing across the school is The Berry Street Welcome Circle model.  This is an approach to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment in classrooms and schools. It is based on the idea that every student has unique experiences and backgrounds that shape their perspectives and behaviors, and that it is important to acknowledge and respect these differences to create a positive learning environment. Here is a rundown of the key elements of the Berry Street Welcome Circle model:

Building relationships: The Welcome Circle model emphasizes the importance of building positive relationships between students, teachers, and other staff members. This is achieved by creating opportunities for students to share their experiences, opinions, and feelings in a safe and respectful environment.

Promoting inclusivity: The model encourages the inclusion of all students, regardless of their background, culture, or ability. Teachers and staff members are encouraged to create a culture of acceptance and to provide support to students who may feel marginalized or excluded.

Fostering a sense of belonging: The model emphasizes the importance of creating a sense of belonging and connection for students in the classroom and school community. This is achieved by creating a safe and supportive environment where students feel valued, respected, and supported.

Encouraging positive behavior: The Welcome Circle model encourages positive behavior by promoting the development of social and emotional skills such as empathy, self-awareness, and self-regulation. This helps students to build positive relationships with their peers and teachers, and to develop a positive sense of self.

Providing support: The model recognizes that students may face challenges in their personal and academic lives, and encourages teachers and staff members to provide support and resources to help students overcome these challenges.

The Berry Street Welcome Circle model is an effective approach to creating a positive and inclusive learning environment. By building positive relationships, promoting inclusivity, fostering a sense of belonging, encouraging positive behavior, and providing support, the model helps students to develop the social and emotional skills they need to succeed in school and in life.

Respectful Relationships 

Positive coping

In their journey of growth and development, children will inevitably encounter situations that elicit feelings of worry, nervousness, and fear. To navigate these demands, individuals rely on coping strategies, some of which are more effective than others. By teaching students positive coping skills, they can develop and refine these techniques, enabling them to better manage future challenges and changes. One key strategy is positive self-talk, which can help individuals cope with negative thoughts, emotions, and events. Research on resilience has shown that utilizing positive self-talk is linked to greater persistence in the face of adversity, whereas negative self-talk is associated with higher levels of distress, depression, and anxiety. With practice, positive self-talk can be learnt or strengthened.

Positive self-talk can have numerous benefits for children, particularly when it comes to promoting mental well-being and resilience. By encouraging children to use positive self-talk, they can learn to manage their emotions and cope with challenging situations. 

Additionally, positive self-talk can enhance a child's self-esteem and confidence, empowering them to take on new challenges with a growth mindset. As children develop positive self-talk skills, they may also become more resilient, able to bounce back from setbacks and persevere in the face of adversity. Ultimately, promoting positive self-talk in children can have long-term benefits for their emotional well-being and success in life.

There are many examples of positive self-talk that children can use to build their confidence and resilience. Here are a few:

1. "I can do this if I try my best."
2. "I am strong and capable."
3. "I am in control of my thoughts and feelings."
4. "Mistakes help me learn and grow."
5. "I am loved and valued for who I am."
6. "I have the power to make a positive difference in the world."
7. "I am worthy of respect and kindness."
8. "I believe in myself and my abilities."
9. "I am grateful for the good things in my life."
10. "I am not perfect, but I am always improving."

Podcast recommendation for wellbeing 

Emma Murray - How Mindfulness Actually Works

Emma Murray is the high-performance mindset coach for the Richmond Football Club and Mum to four children.As the founder of High-Performance Mindfulness - a company that uses mindfulness, psychology and meditation to help people perform at their best - Emma works with elite athletes, corporate executives, students and actors.In this very practical and vulnerable episode, Emma explains how high-performance mindfulness has not only helped her clients, but also helped her when in 2016, her son Will (13 at the time) sustained a spinal cord injury that left him in a wheelchair for life. To learn more about Emma Murray and High Performance Mindfulness, follow this link: https://www.highperformancemindfulness.com.au/

 Life is easier when we build people up instead of tearing them down. 

Stay well,

Simon Brown

Head of Wellbeing