Trinity Anglican School - Cairns story [378KB]pdf - KidsMatter

10KidsMatter Primary Edition 10 2012Trinity Anglican School - Cairns:it’s okay to be caringIntroducing KidsMatter:one school, two sites:White Rock 2010In April 2010, Barbara LaCoste,Head of the Junior School atWhite Rock, attended a Staff andStudent Wellbeing Conference.She discovered that KidsMatterPrimary could support the schoolfocus on social and emotionallearning. Barbara thought it wouldassist teachers to respond to thediverse needs of students.What’s different aboutKidsMatter? All sorts of materialssit on shelves from previousprograms. But the KidsMatterframework allows us to develop anapproach to student wellbeing thatwe can tailor – it is not a one-sizefits all. It’s not a program but a‘framework’ for the purpose ofsupporting students and theirmental health.Barbara LaCosteHead, Junior School White Rocklearns about the new directions onsocial and emotional learningthrough introductions at assembliesand newsletters with informationfrom KidsMatter Primary and librarydisplays.Positive effectsBarbara LaCoste, Head, JuniorSchool, White Rock Campus hasobserved the positive effects ofKidsMatter Primary in studentinteractions. Teachers in theplayground do not spend as muchtime sorting out squabblesbetween peers. Even theyoungest students at White Rocknow use language that showsthey are more able to solveproblems. Students understandthat ‘it’s okay to be caring.’Kewarra Beach 2012Head of the Junior School, ImeldaSpence, has supported staff to workon Component 2 during Term 1through training in Bounce Backskills. The school has a strongmusical focus and within a shorttime of introducing KidsMatterPrimary, a member of the ActionTeam composed a song with thetheme, I matter.White Rock shares informationabout KidsMatter Primary withMarlin Coast. The school communitySome of our assembliesfocus on creative ways ofreinforcing wellbeing. Our weeklyawards promote KidsMatterqualities: kindness; respect;helpfulness and honesty. Thelower junior area is a social hubfor parents involved in schoolactivities such as assemblies andthey can hear information aboutsocial and emotional health andwellbeing.Imelda SpenceHe ad, Junior School, Kewarra Be achKidsMatter Primary Edition 10 2012www.kidsmatter.edu.au

KidsMatter Primary Edition 10 2012CommunicationAt White Rock, communicationbetween the school and familiesand carers is made simplerthrough eduKite, a communicationhub that allows each student tohave a personal webpage.Parents receive daily e-newsletters with information,photos, and resources that focuson classroom programs such asBounce Back. Teachers canconvert almost any content iteminto a portfolio item, anddownload homework and notices.A mirror is situated in theplayground area at KewarraBeach to enable students to lookat their reflection. The mirror issurrounded by positive andencouraging words.Knowing about the schoolcommunityWhen the Action Team at WhiteRock organised the Component 1parent survey, they did not expectto find that one parent group feltisolated. The findings showed theinternational community was onthe fringes.The school learned there werelanguage barriers. Teachersworked on ways to include parentsand carers from non-Englishspeaking backgrounds. TheEnglish as a Second Languageteacher teaches English classes toadults twice a week. She arrangesinterpreters for parent-teacherinterviews and other meetings.Another success wasthe International Camp weheld for parents and familiesfrom Culturally andLinguistically Diversecommunities. Now our ParentCommunity Group meetsfortnightly to assist with theimplementation of KidsMatterPrimary initiatives. The groupwelcomes new families andinvites guest speakers forcoffee mornings.Barbara LaCosteHead, Junior School White RockTrinity Anglican School – CairnsQueensland… Weekly Action Teammeetings include parentrepresentatives and guide theimplementation of KidsMatter.We’ve used Restorative Justicepractices for some years, and weexpect students to think aboutsolutions for their relationships.We have the ‘I matter’ song, andstudents know the importance ofgiving respect. Our photo displayof students strengthens themessage that we are aninclusive community.Imelda SpenceHead, Junior School, Kewarra BeachTalking about mental healthBoth Barbara and Imelda agreethat staff at their respectivecampuses were already aware ofmental health. However; they seethat they talk about it differentlynow. Both Heads value the newfocus on mental health andwellbeing, and they are building itinto the curriculum.Established in 1983 in Cairnsw ith primary schools at tw o sitesP – 7 enrolment at WhiteRoc k, south of Cairns is 340w ith 48 Kindergarten students,and also a secondary schoolEnrolment at Kew arra Beachto the north is 300 P -7studentsThe school motto is teachingthem to observe all things.http://www .tas.qld.edu.auwww.kidsmatter.edu.au