Student Engagement
Student engagement is critical to the achievement of optimal learning outcomes. It is multi‑dimensional and combines observable indicators of engagement such as achievement, behaviour and attendance, with internal feelings and thoughts.
The factors that influence student engagement include:
- the student’s thoughts and feelings about learning, school, peers, teachers and their physical wellness, social emotional wellbeing, learning and cognitive factors, experiences of success, adversity and/or trauma and their level of resilience.
- the family’s thoughts and feelings about learning and school; their experiences of success, adversity and/or trauma and access to supports and services.
- the student’s peers and their thoughts and feelings about friendships, connection to school and learning as well as group safety; access to positive role models; and positive connections and engagement within the community.
Our school seeks to empower students by creating a safe, caring and respectful learning environment, which is stimulating and challenging. Staff, students and parents work together to ensure that the school environment allows all students and their families to feel they belong. The diversity within our school community is acknowledged and celebrated.
Personal and Social Capabilities is a priority in the school’s Business Plan. Educators support the learning, behavioural, emotional and social needs of individual students through adjustments to learning programs and behaviour management strategies. Students are taught emotional regulation strategies and how to support themselves and their peers. Whole school programs are utilised to develop student skills from year to year. Teachers use a variety to evidence-based teaching strategies to further enable student success.
Whole school programs are implemented to foster engagement and well-being including:
Values Program
The school community has identified five values that are emphasised through our Values Program and in all learning programs – Respect, Excellence, Honesty, Responsibility and Cooperation.
School values are reinforced through programs including the faction competition tokens and VIP slips, classroom reward systems, the Student Leaders Program and the Chaplaincy Program. The values are also taught and reinforced in all classrooms, across the curriculum.
School Chaplain
Our Health and Wellbeing program is supported by our School Chaplain. As well as providing pastoral care the chaplain provides in-class support, organises activities to support the school’s Values Program and Harmony Day celebrations, produces a wellness newsletter and coordinates other whole school activities. Chaplain support is available three days a week.
The chaplain is available to everyone in the school community. The chaplain role is to cultivate the personal and social wellbeing of students, their families and staff in need of social, emotional, mental, physical and spiritual support. Examples of student support include:
- Resolving friendship problems and playground incidents.
- Managing emotions when interacting with peers.
- Helping to cope with emotional situations including sadness, anger and fear.
Participation in activities coordinated by the chaplain is voluntary.
Harmony Day
Australia’s cultural diversity is celebrated in Harmony Week which promotes inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.
In the school, Harmony Week is celebrated by encouraging students to wear clothes that promote their cultural background or something orange. An assembly is held to promote the values of Harmony Week and performances organised to broaden the students’ cultural understanding. The School Chaplain also conducts class activities that provide an opportunity to develop their understanding of inclusiveness, respect and belonging.
Student Leaders Program
Year 6 students have opportunities to undertake leadership and mentor roles in the school. Student Leaders are supported to undertake responsibilities that assist with the organisation of the school and encouraged to assist younger students.
The Leaders Program aims to provide an opportunity to develop leadership skills and increase a sense of belonging and ownership. The students assume a wide range of responsibilities which assist with the day-to-day running of the school.
All students in Year 6 are assigned to a leadership team. The leadership teams include:
- The Student Leaders – six students are elected each year, and two Honorary Leaders are chosen each term.
- Faction Captains – each faction elects two faction captains
- PA Team
- Resource and Recycling Team
- Library Resource Team
- Healthy, Active Team
- Chaplain Buddies
Assemblies
Assemblies are conducted every second Friday in the School Hall. Coordinated by the senior students, these occasions provide opportunities for students to showcase their learning and develop public speaking and performance skills.
Once a year, each class from Year 1 to 6 is responsible for organising an assembly. The class presents a short performance typically involving singing, choral speaking, acting and/or dancing and a class report that highlights the learning program that the children have been engaged in during class time.
Regular awards are announced and presented at assemblies including Honour Certificates for individual students and class awards. Parents, families and members of the community are welcome to attend our assemblies.
Faction Competitions
The school has four factions: Strickland (red), Shenton (blue), Murdoch (yellow) and Forrest (green). Each student is placed into a faction for the duration of their time at the school. Faction points are awarded to students for their positive behaviour in the classroom, playground and during sporting activities. Students take great pride in their faction’s performance.
Whole School Rewards
VIP points and tokens are used to reinforce the school’s Values Program and are awarded for good behaviour, positive work habits or enacting the values promoted by the school and community. Points are announced at assemblies and each term members of the winning faction are awarded an extra playtime.
