South Morang
The Lakes South Morang School is one of 70 Victorian schools to receive funding for a globally tested program for dealing with problem students.
The School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support program is designed to foster respect among teachers, students and parents.
The state government announced the schools that will receive grants to take
part in a two-year program, with the help
of a “mentor” school already in the
program.
The Lakes South Morang is one of four schools that will be mentored by Benalla P-12 College in northern Victoria.
Lakes’ leading teacher Bonnie Lee has been charged with steering the program into the school’s existing framework.
Ms Lee said the school had heard of the great success the program had had in trials in Australia and overseas and wanted to introduce it to enhance the programs already in place.
She said the program was “about teaching kids the behaviours you want to see, as opposed to taking punitive measures to avoid negative behaviour”. “It’s about six positive comments to every one negative comment,” she said.
Ms Lee said the program focused on being clear with students
about the behaviour the school expected from them in every
facet of school life, from assembly, to the school yard, classroom and beyond.
Benalla College was involved in the initial pilot program rolled out in 2009. The college’s Barkley Street campus principal, Rhys Evans, said he didn’t think the geographical differences and varying student backgrounds between Benalla and South Morang would be an issue.
He said that before the program, the college suspended students about 380 times a year. Last year it was 40.
“I didn’t like coming to work before. Now I quite enjoy it,” he said.
Parents Victoria’s executive officer Gail McHardy said the organisation welcomed any additional learning support for school leaders, teachers, staff, parents and students in regard to challenging behaviour.
LC
