Student Wellbeing and Behaviour Management (Part 2)

As children learn to be responsible self-managers STOP, THINK, DO can happen quite quickly and on their own. 

At other times staff use steps to guide the students through STOP, THINK, DO.

1. Warnings to STOP. Depending on the age of the class and the needs of the particular child, teachers will have clearly communicated steps to help correct and support a child to manage their behaviour in an appropriate way. These steps can be signals, move to a less distracted spot, rule reminders, moving the child away from the group or giving them an alternative activity, while still completing the lesson.
2. Time-out THINK time in class. Students are directed to leave the lesson/activity for a period of time. This guided time-out is followed by students sharing their thinking when they return to the lesson.
3. Classroom Time-out in class. During these sessions, students will be given opportunities to develop the social skills they need to make positive behaviour choices. Depending on the circumstance, the needs and age of the child, a plan is written for the child to GO with in order to respond appropriately the next time something goes wrong. 
4. Formal and playground time-out. This step is completed with a member of the leadership team. The plan will be sent home with your child and a phone call made. We ask that you discuss what went wrong and the plan your child has made; sign the time-out form and return it to school. It is kept as a reminder for the child to enact the plan they created.

If you wish to clarify any of our Student Wellbeing and Management processes please discuss it with your child’s teacher(s) this term.

Sacred Heart has drawn upon CECG policies in developing these school-based procedures for managing behaviour. Please visit the Catholic Education website - student safety and wellbeing policies. Click here

Sun Safe Policy

Sacred Heart is a sun safe school. We have processes to manage the risk of sunburn during periods of higher and/or longer UV exposure. 

The Community Council has reaffirmed our school rule of ‘no hat, no play’. If your child does not have a hat, or continually forgets to bring their hat outside, they will be asked to sit quietly in either of two nominated areas of the playground. (Kindergarten students are directed to play in the shade in the Kinder Courtyard.) This rule is to help students understand our commitment to sun safety and to take responsibility for knowing where their hat is. Please ensure your child’s hat is clearly labelled with their name.

Volunteer needed to help with Lost Property 

If you have 20 minutes spare a week to help us reunite personal items with their owners, we have the job for you! We need help to manage the mountain of lost property which accumulates almost daily. Please phone the office if you are interested. 

NAPLAN

NAPLAN planning is currently underway. All Year 3 and 5 students will be participating in the tests between 10-20th May. We will have a practice test to check all technology is working on Thursday 24th March.

Keep an eye out for the parent/carer support page and information about technology requirements to be sent via SZapp shortly.

How is your mental wellbeing?

Sacred Heart is a ‘Be You’ School.  Be You supports educators from early learning services and schools to develop a positive, inclusive and resilient learning community where every child, young person, educator and family can achieve their best possible mental health. 

Regularly we will include tips, articles and weblinks in the newsletter which may be of support to members of our community. We were reminded this week of two valuable websites. Their details and links are below. 

Teachers are able to pass on various articles and links to parents and carers. We also have a few books to lend out on various topics supporting child growth and development. Please reach out if we can support your family.

The Wellbeing Action Team - Anne Staines, Tash Barrenger, Brendan Mitchell & Kerry Wode

For Children up to 25 years of age - MindMap

MindMap - ACT Youth Portal is a dedicated portal for children and young people (up to 25 years of age) to help navigate Canberra’s mental health system and to find the right service and support. It is not a crisis support line, but it does provide links to them. 

MindMap – ACT Youth Portal is an initiative of ACT Health, Office of Mental Health and Wellbeing and is delivered by Marymead and supported by a broad range of local ACT organisations. MindMap

For Adults - Beyond Blue Mental Wellbeing Support Service

The last couple of years have been tough, and with everything constantly changing, 

it’s hard to find the right words to describe how we’re feeling. One moment we might be excited for the day and then the next, we can’t be bothered. Or maybe we might be hopeful for the future, and then feel really worried about it.

No matter how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting your mental wellbeing,

beyondblue have developed a range of information, strategies and expert advice to help support you. coronavirus.beyondblue

Yours faithfully,