School Wide Positive Behaviours

What is the School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Approach?

Werribee Primary School follows the PBS approach. This is a whole school approach to creating an environment, which encourages effective learning through the development of a positive, calm and welcoming atmosphere. We encourage positive feedback to students often and endeavour to teach students how to behave appropriately. We recognise that learning social skills and socially acceptable behaviours is a process, which everybody moves through at a different pace. Learning appropriate social skills is seen in the same light as learning how to read or complete maths. Some people need more assistance in some areas and less in others.

Why PBS?

In the past, discipline has focused mainly on reacting to specific student misbehaviour by implementing punishment-based strategies e.g. reprimands, loss of privileges, suspensions and expulsions. Research has shown that the implementation of punishment, and in the absence of other positive strategies is ineffective. Introducing, modeling, and reinforcing positive social behaviours is an important step of a students educational experience.  Teaching behavioural expectations and rewarding students for following them is a much more positive approach than waiting for misbehaviour to occur before responding.

 

Behaviour Expectation Matrix

School Wide

A matrix has been developed for teachers and students to identify the expected behaviours at Werribee Primary School. The matrix includes appropriate behaviours in specific areas including:

  • Oval and sandpit
  • Play equipment
  • Canteen
  • Toilet
  • Passive areas (outside gym, Library, under the rotunda)
  • Moving around the school
  • Assembly
  • Wider Community

These behaviours are displayed around the school and discussed regularly with the children at Werribee Primary School.

The Matrix

In the Classroom

At the beginning of each school year, classroom teachers work with their class in developing a Classroom Behavior Matrix specific to their students. The matrix clearly defines expectations which are explicitly taught for one hour each week to teach, model and reinforce expected behaviour. Every teacher utilises a Classroom Behaviour Management Flowchart which guides their response to student behaviours.  Social skills are also explicity taught and linked to the Behaviour Matrix to reinforce expected behaviours.

 

Reward Systems

Teachers reward and recognise students who display our school values in a variety of ways. Each teacher designs and implements a positive reward system in their classroom, which is appropriate for the context of the class they teach. Rewards may include:

  • Verbal praise
  • Stickers/stamps
  • Spot awards
  • Raffle tickets
  • Whole Class Reward system.

Teachers may also use other strategies such as writing a special letter or making a special phone call to parents/carers.

 

Purple Tokens - What are they?

The purple tokens are a vital aspect of our whole school Positive Behavior Support.

How does a student receive a purple token?

Teachers and staff hand out purple tokens in the school yard when students have displayed our school values. We like to call it “catching them out”. This could be as simple as using their manners to helping another student when in distress.

The purple tokens are a form of acknowledgement, a simple and instant way to acknowledge the positive behavior displayed by a student. Students who receive purple tokens go into a raffle each week to win a prize at Assembly.

 

Real Schools - Supporting PBS

We have formed a three year partnership with Real Schools commencing in 2015 and continuing to 2017 to enhance our PBS approach.  How this partnership will develop will be posted on our website as it progresses. Click here for more information

 

See also:

  • Students Awards
  • Student Support Services and Agencies
  • Program for Students with Disabilities
  • Student Engagement Policy