Respectful Schools/Respectful Behaviour

We talk regularly to students about modelling positive behaviour and how their choices impact on themselves and others, often in ways that they don’t realise at the time. However, as we described to our students this week, the type of culture in a school community is often clearer in the moments when the presence of adults is not constantly there, eg the walk to and from school, school sports, recess/lunch and transition times. But school culture isn’t limited to the interactions between kids. It is represented by all of the interactions and relationships that take place in a school community; student/student, parent/parent, parent/student, student/staff staff/staff & parent/staff. For the overwhelming majority, I am really pleased with our student responses during these times. Building this positive culture though, extends beyond our students to staff, parents and in to each home in our community.

A culture of respectful behaviour provides certainty for all. Everyone seeks and deserves this certainty in their school or workplace, therefore the responsibility and accountability is on all members of the community to behave in a respectful way, irrespective of the time or place.

We had a nice surprise this week when Tasmanian schools received a professional resource on this topic, featuring two Penguin students on the cover!