Wellbeing

Be Safe | Be Respectful | Be Responsible

At Parkes High School, we are currently using the positive behaviour for learning (PBL) system which has a school wide set of expectations. Our expectations at Parkes High School are that we are safe, respectful and responsible in all that we do.

PBL helps to build environments that encourage and promote academic achievement and social competence while preventing problem behaviour. The idea behind PBL is that it will reduce unnecessary discipline and promote a climate of greater productivity, safety and learning.

PBL involves the explicit teaching of appropriate behaviour and we address this through our PBL focuses. This year our focuses have so far been entering and exiting the classroom in a safe, respectful and responsible way, and using respectful language always. Lining up in alphabetical order on assembly quickly and quietly is also something that students should now be very familiar with.

To recognise positive and appropriate behaviour, points are given out regularly throughout the term for those students that meet the expectations of our focuses.

DP Inclusion - Mrs Quigg

HT Wellbeing - Ms B James

Year 12 Year Advisor - Mrs T Clarke

Year 11 Year Advisor - Mr C Kopp

Year 10 Year Advisor - Ms S McLachlan

Year 9 Year Advisor - Ms H Kemp

Year 8 Year Advisor - Mr W Murray

Year 7 Year Advisor - Ms B Cotterill

School Chaplain - Mr C Pridham

School Psychologist - Ms E Kelly & Mrs B MacKay

The system aims to address student behaviour in a proactive way rather than a reactive one and aims to drive the key philosophy of student ownership and responsibility to resolve any matters that may arise within their classes concerning behaviour. The system also strengthens that vital relationship between staff and students to work together to guide the student to success in addressing behaviour with the staff member. It does not promote punitive measures which may have been the hall marks of discipline systems that you or I were familiar with when we went to school. The system was designed by staff, parents and students.

The first two tiers of the new system are based in faculties (green and orange). The red tier is utilised by the Deputy Principal to resolve behavioural challenges and also to monitor students at risk of suspension, or may be experiencing issues across several key learning areas. Head Teachers can also utilise a yellow card to address issues that arise in the playground at recess or lunch times.

Major behavioural issues such as physical violence, cyber bullying issues are addressed directly through the Deputy Principals and the Suspension Policy of the school.

This system has an enormous range of benefits for students who have to engage the system  because of behavioural issues. These include:

• students are monitored only from the area in which the problem has been experienced
• students are engaged with a reflective practice and meeting with staff  prior to when a  monitoring and resolution card is issued
• students nominate how they will return their behaviour to a level of respect, responsibility or safety and play a key role in the planning process to address the issue
• the monitoring length can be determined by negotiation with staff through compliance with the plan designed by the student and after consultation with staff
• both the green and orange cards, used by classroom teachers and Head Teachers, promote contact with parents either through a phone call or letter home to discuss the problem being experienced but also to make parents aware of how it is being addressed, so parents can support the student in line with the plan that has been devised by their son or daughter and our staff
• students can represent the school at sport and other extracurricular activities as soon as the matter has been resolved but not when they are on the monitoring card
• monitoring cards are not used across the school day but allow issues from specific areas like the playground, to be addressed, and does not involve areas where the student has demonstrated exemplary behaviour.

For further information please contact the Deputy Principal.

• The green card is used by classroom teachers and students to resolve issues of behaviour or conduct within individual classrooms
• the classroom teacher records on Sentral as part of the student's discipline record and will make contact with home as part of this procedure
• if a student is unable to resolve the issue concerned with the classroom teacher, the Head Teacher may determine to move the monitoring to the orange tier of the system.

• The orange card is used by the faculty Head Teacher to resolve the issue with the student and to address behavioural issues and conduct matters that have not been successfully resolved by the student with their classroom teacher
• the Head Teacher records on Sentral as part of the student's discipline record and will make contact with home as part of this procedure
• if a student is unable to resolve the issue concerned with the Head Teacher, the Deputy Principal may determine to move the monitoring to the red tier of the system.

• The yellow card is used by the Head Teacher on playground duty to address issues related to poor conduct on the playground
• the Head Teacher records on Sentral as part of the student's discipline record and will make contact with home as part of this procedure
• if a student is unable to resolve the issue concerned with the Head Teacher, the Deputy Principal may determine to move the monitoring to the red tier of the system.

• The red card is used by the Deputy Principal to resolve the issue with the student and to address behavioural issues and conduct matters that have not been successfully resolved by the student with their classroom teacher or faculty Head Teacher, or where the issue is of a more serious nature
• the Deputy Principal records on Sentral as part of the student's discipline record and will make contact with home as part of this procedure
• if a student is unable to resolve the issue concerned with the Deputy Principal, the Principal may determine if a Formal Caution of Suspension or a Suspension is required.