Over the course of this term Primary students have been working on the Zones of Regulation.
This program unpacks the idea that we all operate in different ’zones’ of feelings and degrees of regulation throughout the day. These include the BLUE ZONE, where students may be moving slowly and feeling tired, unwell or sad; the GREEN ZONE where students are ready to go, feeling happy and calm; the YELLOW ZONE where students are feeling frustrated, wriggly, worried or over excited; and the RED ZONE where students are mad, angry or scared and feeling out of control. This program is used across the world and will help to provide students with skills and understanding in self-regulation while teaching and outlining strategies to use in their daily lives to help make good choices.
“ With these skills, students will be able to recognise when they are in different zones and come up with shared and personal ways of dealing with these feelings with low impact on the learning of themselves and others.”
With these skills, students will be able to recognise when they are in different zones and come up with shared and personal ways of dealing with these feelings with low impact on the learning of themselves and others. This will help students and teachers get the most out of their learning programs throughout the day. It will also help students to learn and utilise positive strategies when dealing with conflict and decision making.
Even with these skills, there will be times when students are unable to control these feelings or make choices that impact themselves and others. In these circumstances, we want to ensure that a culture or Safety, Respect and Learning is maintained in our learning community. To help support this, our behaviour management system is simple, but effective. The following process will be followed when students are not displaying expected behaviours within the school environment. This includes when students are learning with teachers, with teacher assistants or in the playground.
Students are given a rule reminder. If they choose to follow this reminder and change their behaviour, no further consequence is required.
If the behaviour continues, they will be relocated to a designated space inside the classroom (or playground) to rethink their behavioural choices. If the student chooses to make a positive behaviour choice, they will re-join their peers.
If a student is still refusing to follow instructions or make good choices, they will be relocated to another class or to senior staff.
Where appropriate in this process, we take into account individual needs, circumstances and learning plans for students, whilst still providing consistency and equity.
We have worked hard to create a positive culture and environment within our school community based on our biblical understandings, which are role modelled by Christ Himself. It is important that we hold students accountable for their behaviours for the sake of themselves and those around them. This will be achieved through a combination of teaching and up-skilling students in self-regulation through the Zones of Regulation, and providing consequences when reasonable behaviours are not being displayed. We appreciate your partnership and support as we work with you to support and teach your children both for now and their future.
Andrew Nash — Head of Primary