The Grange P-12 College

The Grange has joined the Western Region’s SW-PBSEL program. The term stands for School Wide Positive Behaviour Support for Engagement and Learning (SW-PBSEL) and it has been identified and implemented as a cornerstone program of the WMR Blueprint for School Improvement—the Learning Environment.

The Grange is one of 24 schools who are participating in a three year state-wide pilot of SW-PBSEL currently being evaluated by the University of Melbourne, Centre for Program Evaluation. 

SW-PBSEL aims to improve the engagement of all students. It provides participating school communities with an effective evidence based framework for creating orderly school wide and classroom environments and builds respectful relationships, at all levels of the school community. During the next semester the school community will be involved in reviewing the school values and deciding on positive behaviours that are essential for our students to be taught that will assist them both while at school and in the community. For example; respecting our environment involves keeping work desks clean of graffiti, putting litter in bins provided and participating in litter duty rosters. A very important part of this program is connecting Positive meaningful rewards for students to their positive behaviours. The school Student Engagement Policy which is available on our website links closely with this initiative. 

 All schools involved in SW-PBSEL have established a professional learning team (PLT) lead by their Principal to drive the program within the school. An “internal coach” in each school works closely with an external regional coach to support the program. At The Grange our internal coaches are Leading Teacher – Julia McCahon and Team 5/6 Leader Natalie Smith. Assistant Principals David Smillie, Meredith Clencie, Karen Baker, Jo Camozzato, Peter Knight and Laban Toose are part of the team that will work with staff, students and parents. Over the coming months as there will be further communication about school expectations and how they will be taught and modelled and reinforced with all school community members including school leaders, teachers, students and parents.

To provide a comprehensive student wellbeing program that builds and promotes a sense of belonging and resilience which will assist students to achieve a successful pathway in a safe and supportive school environment.

All students should be given an opportunity to reach their full potential.

We recognise the importance of interagency collaboration in supporting and improving students learning outcomes and wellbeing.

We are committed to building a secure learning environment where all students feel culturally, emotionally and physically safe.

Students are provided with a variety of age appropriate opportunities to explore pathways relevant to them. This will enable students to be empowered with the skills to make appropriate choices regarding their own pathway to further education, training and employment.

All prevention and intervention programs are developed in response to student needs that have been determined by up-to-date research, as well as quantitive and qualitative data analyses. Data will be used to evaluate and refine current programs.

The Student Wellbeing team identify the following values as trademark behaviours when supporting students, families and staff at The Grange P-12 College:

Open, fair and non judgemental

Role-model informed practice when assisting young people

Membership of professional and support networks

Committed to providing a wholistic comprehensive service when supporting students and families by linking them with health, community and youth agencies.

Aim to have professional, productive and informed conversations with staff in regards to student wellbeing matters

Confidential and ethical practice within the parameters of working with young people of varying ages in a school setting.

This was compiled and written by : Joanne Camozzato; Julia McCahon; Richard Towers; Evonne Kurpiewski.

All members of the school community should model appropriate social

behaviour and should be respectful of others.

 

All students have the right to:

Be treated fairly and respectfully by all members of the school community

Be safe and secure

Stimulating teaching and learning

Learn in the classroom without interruption

A clean, ordered and safe learning environment

Equitable access to school programs regardless of gender and cultural

background

Express their views appropriately through the Student Representative

Council and the School Council

Receive ongoing communications, assessments and reports about

their progress.

 

All students have the responsibility to:

Come to school in correct uniform

Bring equipment ready and prepared to learn

Attend school 95 % of the time or more; be on time to school and all

classes 

Remain at school in class for the whole day

Participate in College programs that are offered appropriate to their

year level

Respect the right of others to learn and be willing to take on all

learning opportunities

Communicate clearly and honestly any issues of concern they have

about their learning to an appropriate staff member

Care for their own property/equipment and respect the property/equipment

of other students and of the school

Respect the individuality of others regardless of gender, religious and

cultural background

Respect their personal health and emotional wellbeing (and that of others)

and comply with school regulations associated with prohibiting the use of

cigarettes, alcohol and other drugs

Use digital technology and electronic communication in a safe and

respectful manner

Every student, staff member, parent and visitor at The Grange P-12 College

has the right to be respected and feel safe within the College environment

and while participating in college activities. A person who bullies or harasses

another is denying them that right and is not behaving as a responsible school

community member.

 

Bullying is when someone, or a group of people, who have more power at the

time deliberately upset or hurt another person, their property, reputation or

social acceptance on more than one occasion. This could occur in a variety

of ways: face to face; name-calling; excluding; spreading rumours; on the

internet; over the telephone or via text messages.

 

Students must be able to feel that they can talk about incidences of harassment

if the behavior is to cease. Students are often afraid to report bullying for fear

that it will get worse. The act of witnessing the bullying of another person and

doing nothing to stop it, is as bad as the person who is actually bullying that

person. Bystander responsibility will be adhered to by all members of the school

community.

 

Any form of harassment is totally unacceptable at The Grange P-12 College.

There are many types of behaviours that if continuous can be defined as

harassment:

(These are only some examples)

Verbal: Name calling, put downs, spreading rumours or gossiping, negative

comments about someone’s appearance, gender sexuality, cultural or social

background; homophobic comments or teasing, isolating people from their

friends/peers, talking about them in a huddle as if they are not there, threatening

to ‘get’ another person or have others ‘get’ them.

Physical: Threatening behaviour, fighting or using weapons; spitting on others;

invasion of ‘personal space’, unwanted touching, Interfering with another person’s

property, by stealing, hiding, damaging or destroying it, or teasing that person with

their property, making gestures that are threatening, writing offensive notes or graffiti

about others, sending e-mail and/or text which is offensive and demeaning.

Racial:Racist comments or jokes; emails or letter, negative reference to a person’s

appearance, cultural values/beliefs, or language

Digital technology and electronic bullying: Spread of rumours via msn, placing images

without a person’s  consent, giving out personal details to others about others without

permission, posting offensive comments, messages and bulletins on social networking

sites (e.g. MySpace; Facebook), downloading inappropriate material e.g. video images

of students at school or student incidents and sending it to others.

 

Step 1: Talk to someone you trust. E.g. Parents; Guardians; Friends; Teachers you

trust, or the school counselor.

Step 2: Take personal actions. E.g. Try to ask the bully to stop; keep notes or save

texts/emails about who, what and when.

Step 3: Make a formal complaint to a teacher. E.g. Report bullying to your Home group

teacher or Year Level Leader.

Step 4: The person who the student has reported will be interviewed.

Step 5: Restorative Practices will be used to help resolve the situation if appropriate.

Step 6: If the problem is not resolved or the severity of the bullying may result in the

Year Level Leader/Assistant Year Level Leader or Assistant Principals informing the

bully’s parents. Appropriate consequences (e.g. community service, detentions or

suspension) will be determined.

Step 7: The bully/bullies and the person who has been harassed will be monitored

by the teaching staff.Student Wellbeing underpins and supports all areas of the College.

The Student Wellbeing Team at The Grange aim to provide a comprehensive

student wellbeing program that builds and promotes a sense of belonging and

resilience which will assist students to achieve a successful pathway in a safe

and supportive school environment. We believe all students should be given an

opportunity to reach their full potential. We recognise the importance of interagency

collaboration in supporting and improving students learning outcomes and wellbeing.

We are committed to building a secure learning environment where all students feel

culturally, emotionally and physically safe.Students are provided with a variety of

age appropriate opportunities to explore pathways relevant to them. This will enable

students to be empowered with the skills to make appropriate choices regarding their

own pathway to further education, training and employment.

 

At The Grange, Deloraine 7-12 Campus there are different staff members who can

help young people with Wellbeing issues while they are at school.

 

JO CAMOZZATO: ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL - STUDENT WELLBEING manages the

SW TEAM and supports the other Assistant Principals and teaching staff with Student

Wellbeing issues. Sometimes she meets with parents, talks to students individually

and in small groups, works with students who have learning difficulties and liaises

with outside agencies and community services who are supporting the students and

families who come to TheGrange.

 

JULIA McCAHON: STUDENT WELLBEING COORDINATOR is a Leading Teacher

who focuses on developing and supporting Student Wellbeing. She provides support

for students who have personal, family, learning and sometimes behaviour difficulties

by meeting with them individually or in small groups. Julia’s role also involves introducing and facilitating prevention programs at our school and linking students with those programs that best suit their needs.

 

EVONNE MARIC: SCHOOL COUNSELLOR works with students on various issues

such as depressed moods, bullying, anxiety, grief & loss as well as, develoing problem

solving and coping skills. She also refers students and families to outside support

agencies. She is involved in the planning and delivery of prevention and intervention

programs. Students can be referred to her by teachers, parents and Assistant Principals.

Students can also refer themselves to counselling. However, it is important to note that

no one can force a young person to participate in counselling. Evonne also organizes

many lunchtime activities for students to participate in and enjoy.

 

AZADI RAZAVIZADEH HEALTH PROMOTIONS NURSE is available for some individual and group counselling around health issues. Her role enables her to organise many health promotion events and programs which young people can participate in.