2 Lake Street, Windale NSW 2306
Ph: 02 4948 8467 Fax: 02 4947 2238

Learning Support

STUDENT WELFARE

The Pastoral Care Policy was reviewed in 2011. The Bullying and Teasing Policy’s was reviewed in 2012.  Both policies aim at developing a sense of self-worth and fostering the personal development of all children, reflecting the National safe Schools Framework and the generic values presented in the Values for Australian Schooling statement.  Both policies are available on the school website.  These ensure a safe and supportive environment for students in our school.

The school further developed a behaviour management system called “Positive Behaviour Support” (PBS).  This program enables staff to reward pupils with a ‘high five card’ for positive behaviours as (1) a learner (2) being responsible (3) being respectful.  Pupils are able to spend their banked ‘high fives’ at the PBS shop. Further rewards were added to the PBS Shop which proved highly successful in 2014.
Pastoral care initiatives included awards for the student who showed exemplary service to the school, either on the playground or in class achievements.  Academic, cultural, citizenship and sporting achievements were recognised through these awards and in the school bulletin.

Collaboration with parents was a fundamental principle when dealing with behavioural issues and the approach taken was one that valued the building of quality relationships and acknowledged and promoted restorative justice practices and processes.

Safety of students, staff and volunteers was managed by the implementation of the Fire and Emergency Evacuation policy.  Regular evacuations were practised throughout the year and Other Agreed Arrangements Model of WH&S ensured all matters of concern were raised at staff meetings and dealt with accordingly.

POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT

Through our PBS we are able to offer a predictable, positive teaching and learning environment. Our school community is now confident in identifying 3 key areas in which we are able to achieve success:

 

 

Be Respectful
Be a Learner
Be Responsible

 

 

You may have noticed our “Hi 5’s” displayed around the school, as reminders and encouragement for the students to do their very best in all of these areas. The children receive a Hi 5 voucher when they are noticed being respectful, trying hard with their school work and being responsible. Each week the children love to tally their Hi 5’s, and then are able to “spend” their Hi 5’s in our PBS shop. There are a variety of rewards such as toys, vouchers, lunches and outings.

We acknowledge the quickest way to ensure positive behaviour, in anyone, is to point out what they are doing well.

If you would like to know more about our PBS school programme, or how you could implement some of the strategies at home, please come and have a chat.             

                     

What do our kids think of PBS?

I think PBS is a great idea because it encourages people to do their best.  Hannah W

The Hi 5 room is good for us because if you behave you can save up and get something really good. Chloe M

The PBS makes kids be good so that they can earn Hi 5’s to buy things. Hayden

Hi 5’s help us to be learners and be responsible and respectful. Shannon

It makes us want to be good. Hayley Mc

PBS teaches us to be responsible for own things because we have to look after our own Hi 5’s.  Alexander H

I like to bank my Hi 5’s and save up for something really good. Donte

The Hi 5 system is great because it helps the kids to learn more. Xavier

 

SAFE SCHOOL FRAMEWORK

At St Pius X, we are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all of our pupils so they can learn in a relaxed and secure atmosphere.  Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at our school.  If bullying does occur, all pupils should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively.  We are a TELLING school.  This means that anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell the staff.

What Is Bullying?

Bullying is the planned use of aggression with the intention of hurting another person.  Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim.
Bullying can be:

  • Emotional        being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting (e.g. hiding books, threatening gestures)
  • Physical           pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence
  • Racist              racial taunts, graffiti, gestures
  • Sexual             unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments
  • Homophobic   because of, or focussing on the issue of sexuality
  • Verbal              name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing
  • Cyber              All areas of internet ,such as  email & internet chat room misuse Mobile threats by text messaging & calls Misuse of associated technology , i.e. camera & video facilities

Why is it Important to Respond to Bullying?

Bullying hurts.  No one deserves to be a victim of bullying.  Everybody has the right to be treated with respect.  Pupils who are bullying need to learn different ways of behaving.

At St Pius X we have a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to issues of bullying. In situations where bullying occurs our Discipline Policy will be enacted.

Discipline

The Schools Pastoral Care and Discipline Policy covers both classroom and playground behaviours and provides clear expectations of acceptable behaviours and school associated consequences.
The Positive Behaviour Support Program is the main anchor of our discipline policy.
All policies relating to discipline are based on procedural fairness and are available from administration as well as from the school website.

In compliance with the N.S.W. Reform Act of 1990, corporal punishment is not used at St Pius X for the management of students.  Neither are parents able to use corporal punishment of their child/children at this school.