When Principal Robyn Bell arrived at Undera Primary School, she quickly realised the students were not quite sure what the school values were.
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That prompted a piece of work with the students that has helped shape the school’s approach to behaviour, rewards and wellbeing over the past few years.
The students had a say in developing three values they believed were important for everyone to have, and were also involved in working out what different behaviours looked like and what the consequences should be.
“They were more involved in deciding whether they were a minor or a major behaviour, and then what the consequences would be,” Robyn said.
The students even recognised that a minor behaviour, if repeated, could become a major one.
“They know exactly what is asked of them, so nothing is a surprise,” she said.
The values of respect, responsibility and excellence are now woven through everyday school life, including the school’s reward system.
Students earn tokens linked to the three values, which they can save or spend at the school’s Class Dojo shop.
“We try and be consistent with the colours and the logos because they come across in everything that we do,” Robyn said.
The school has also found fun ways to bring the values to life.
At one stage, students became “respect investigators”, dressing up and keeping an eye out for examples of respectful behaviour around the school.
“They would be the person who looked for people doing respectful things,” Robyn said.
“The kids absolutely loved dressing up.”
Wellbeing is another important part of the school week, with students taking part in regular lessons linked to respectful relationships or issues identified as important for the students at the time.
The school also uses student surveys and other data to help identify areas that may need attention.
“Our wellbeing lessons can be point-of-need lessons,” she said.
“If we see that something needs to be addressed, we will adapt our lessons to address that.”
With the school celebrating 150 years, Robyn said the values provide an important foundation for the students and the wider school community, helping create consistency, while giving students a voice in the culture they are part of.
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