Social and Emotional Learning

The school fosters a culture of positive and respectful relationships. We believe that students have the primary responsibility for their choices and actions and we take every opportunity to acknowledge and encourage positive behaviour and good decision making in students. Our Behaviour Management policy is based on the understanding that all students have rights and subsequent responsibilities that contribute to creating a harmonious learning environment. We believe that every student has the right: to be happy, to feel safe and to learn.

 

At St John’s we believe that Social and Emotional learning should be a whole school approach, integrated into school

culture through daily interactions, embedded in the curriculum and developed in partnership with families.

 

Social and Emotional learning is a key teaching focus across the school. As well as being integrated across the curriculum, it is explicitly taught using various resources including the ‘Resilience, Rights & Respectful Relationships’ Resource (Department of Education and Training).

 

Better Buddies Program

The Alannah and Madeline Foundation's Better Buddies Framework is an initiative designed to create friendly and caring primary school communities where bullying is reduced. Through the Better Buddies program, students in Prep and Year 6 are buddied up and participate in activities which support the Prep students’ transition into our school

 

Every term, the whole school participates in a Better Buddies Key Event. These key events provide an opportunity for all students to build positive relationships across the school, enhancing their sense of belonging and connectedness. The students are placed in multi-aged groups and participate in activities that highlight our school faith based values: Caring for Others, Friendliness, Respect, Valuing Difference, Including Others and Responsibility.

 

Transition

St John’s provides a comprehensive transition program that reflects a continuous learning approach. We believe the support offered to students by families and schools, at these important times, will determine whether they remain engaged and connected to school and ultimately have a successful educational experience.

Student Voice and Participation:

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At St John’s, we value and promote student voice, participation and engagement in all aspects of school and community life. Students are encouraged to take on various leadership roles and are supported to develop student led initiatives. Student voice and participation is promoted through:

• Inquiry Based Learning

• Student Leadership Program

• Student Action Teams in Faith & Social Justice, KidsMatter, Sustainability, FIRE Carriers, The Arts, Languages, eSmart

• Classroom meetings/Circle Time

• Social Justice initiatives

• Lunchtime clubs

 

Seasons Program 

Seasons is a peer support program that is designed to assist students in coping with the grief that is experienced through death or family breakdown. The program is usually run twice a year depending on the need.

Student Counselling

A counselling service is available at the school. A qualified psychologist attends one day a week. Through this service, students and families are assisted to work through personal issues which cover a wide spectrum. Referrals are made through the class teacher, Learning Diversity Leader or Principal.