The consequences of our choices

The values of Choice Theory underpin our beliefs and ways of working at Peregian Springs State School. They are evident in the ways we treat each other, the decisions we make, our policies and procedures and how we educate our little people.

The basic premise of Choice Theory is acceptance of the idea that we choose our behaviour and are responsible for ourselves. Living a Choice Theory life gives a person control over their thinking and actions, is self motivating, and empowering. 

The choice we have is paramount.

Glasser says 'We almost always have choices, and the better the choice, the more we will be in control of our lives'. 

It's the best lesson in life there is.

The standard you walk past, is the standard you accept

Congratulations, David Morrison, AO, on becoming the 2016 Australian of the Year.

Source: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BMtxrz7CIAA_uUf.jpg

In June 2013 as Head of the Australian Defence Force, Morrison made an announcement to the Australian Army about the allegations of sexual harassment and unaceptable behaviour by Army members. He made no bones about his attitude to this behaviour and what he thinks, not just of those who perpetrate it, but of those who know about it and do nothing. He famously said 'The standard you walk past is the standard you accept'. He also said 'Every one of us is responsible for the culture and reputation of the ADF and I need every one of you to support me in achieving this.'

We could replace the acronym 'ADF' in his speech with 'Peregian Springs SS' and apply it to our own organisation. Over six years we have crafted high expectatons and standards in achievement, behaviour, attendance, uniform and effort. We expect and help everyone to work on maintaining these - from the smallest Prep to the newest family to the most experienced staff member.

Teachers (and other staff) ask kids to step up and try harder, to remove a non-uniform item, to treat their peers with more respect, to welcome newcomers to the school, to be on time, to be prepared for learning, to use common courtesies in all situations. Parents are asked to support us in this. These are tough conversations for staff to have, and they are not always received kindly.

So why don't we walk past poor behaviour, lateness, disrespect and coloured jumpers? It's because the research into what makes kids successful and happy at school is the adherence to high expectations and consistent boundaries. And our kids are testament to this - every day.

I can't wait to see them all again tomorrow for the start of another year of learning and smiling. Happy New School Year, everyone!

I love the Drop Off Zone

I love the Drop Off Zone! How nerdy is that?

I race out at 3.00pm every afternoon I can. Sometimes Sandy (Mrs Cathcart) will say, 'I'll do it for you'. But I never let her.

It's the one time of the day that I get to spend time with the same group of children. I love that they greet me when I get there. Some of them are carrying books and we chat about stories and authors. Others are proudly carrying art works they have created that day and they love to show me.  I help them put stuff in their bags and we talk about what's in their homework folders.

We often have to huddle together under umbrellas and I have a special pair of gum boots for those days. Too many pairs of shoes have been ruined on wet days! Or I have to insist everyone put their hat on because we are baking in the sun for 15 minutes. The children are always good natured about whatever happens.

Kids yell goodbye as they climb into their cars, Mums and Dads wave, some older past students slink low in front seats trying not to be seen, and when there is a dog in the front seat we say 'how cute!' One past parent used to bring their cat and I got to cuddle him on more than one occasion. I often have a quick chat with a parent or two - Did you get my email? Your child has settled well into our school? Can you come and see me about your little bloke who is starting school next year?

The boys and I often pass comment on the cars and we love it when the Butterworth's drive their Cadillac in. We can smell the gasoline from a mile away! This week we saw a car with a self-closing boot. 'Awesome', we all said together and then laughed.

Everyone waits in line politely and kids like it when the gate is open and they can run up the path when their parent's car pulls in along the kerb. Kids watch the road and yell ' I can see my mum - she's gonna be on the roundabout soon'.

Children know not to chase their balls when one escapes across the road and sometimes I have to weave between the traffic to retrieve a lost item. And there is always something interesting left behind - a swimming bag, a diorama, a toy - yesterday we found just one Haviana thong. And we all had a laugh about how someone could have left only one thong behind.

Recently at a community meeting, representatives from the Council, the Police and the Department of Transport commented on how everyone waits patiently in the line all around the two roundabouts and through the school car park. Sure - we have the odd cranky person who doesn't want to keep moving when their children are not in the green space but in the main we are a very well behaved community! (Thanks for that, everyone)

At this same meeting a suggestion was made to get rid of the Drop Off Zone.  My heart sank. Really! Are they joking! I hope so because I love the Drop Off Zone. It usually ends my day with smiles and hugs from the kids I love. And when the last child is packed safely into a car, I wander back to the office to finish the day.

Behaviour is infectious!

I recently saw this post on my Facebook News Feed - and thought how true it is. When people make an effort to smile and greet each other, use common courtesies, wait patiently at the checkout, drive courteously and generally be pleasant, others around them often follow.

And similarly, when we are angry, discourteous and greet the world with a scowling face, the world scowls back at us.

If you ever have a chance to drive up (or down) the west coast of Australia, you will see the roadside strewn with bottles, fast food wrappings, nappies, and all manner of rubbish normally reserved for the local tip. It's almost as if every traveller on that highway has seen the rubbish and thought 'oh well, I may as well throw all mine out there too'.

And so it is, not just with litter, but with every behaviour - they are infectious! People seem to catch them and the ripples spread. I see a lot of ripples of infectious behaviour in our school - our children play well together, greet each other warmly and include new friends, use their manners freely, hand in money when they find it, smile openly and are generally cooperative, friendly and cheerful to be with. The virus behaviours are infectious too. The other day I watched a couple of boys on the oval tripping each other up and pushing each other to the ground. By the time I got the teacher's attention and pointed madly to the fracas going on behind him, the 'game' involved five boys.

The behaviour of adults is also infectious - going a little too fast on the roads, jaywalking instead of crossing at the lights, pulling up in a No Parking zone for just a couple of minutes and swimming outside the flags. For more examples closer to home/school, just take a look at parking around our school in the afternoons, stopping in the Drop Off/Pick Up Zone, and latest virus to catch on, encouraging children to 'jump the fence' or putting children over the locked gate on Ridges Boulevard. A couple of people do it, and before you know it, many are doing it, even though it's unsafe and all students have been asked to walk around to the entrance.

In many cases, children can work out when behaviour is a virus and when it's a peaceful ripple, and make a choice accordingly. But as they are learning how to get along in the world they look to adult role models to help them discern the finer points of what is 'right' and 'wrong' in any given situation. As adults it is important for us to think about what our children are learning from watching our behaviour and the choices we make - the 'rules' or safety practices we decide to ignore or just bend a little. In many cases, children are learning that it's okay to ignore rules and do what they want, as long as no one is watching.

I wonder where a learning like this could take us in the future? Will children learn, for example, that its okay to take something from someone else because no one was there to see it? Or they may decide to not wear a bike helmet because it's unlikely there will be a police officer to notice. Instead of learning to be intrinsically honest and caring about others, they learn to test the waters to see if they get caught - and rejoice in the times they 'get away with it'.

Let's all consider what our children really learn when we are rushed and frazzled and tempted to 'jump the fence', and instead, choose the long term solution of teaching our kids how to tread a safe and thoughtful passage through life.

A friend commented on the picture above in her News Feed and said 'Imagine if everyone in the world did this for just one day? It costs nothing and would create world peace'.

Have a lovely day!

Whole School Assemblies - a precious part of our culture

I love our Assemblies!

Assembly occurs every Friday morning in the Central Covered Games Area and involves every student and every teacher (unless they are at swimming lessons!) It's the one time of the week when we all get together in one place and celebrate our learning journeys.

Our Assemblies are full of colour and fun. They are not the time of the week when we use the opportunity of everyone being together to have growl - although sometimes there are some messages that everyone needs to think about!

Our Assemblies are a time when students get to practice appropriate audience behaviour - we teach these skills explicitly and expect every child to demonstrate them. And they do this very well - although I long for the day when they can all stand QUIETLY for the Anthem!

The items from the classes are always wonderful - the Preps are usually colourful and very cute and command much attention. The Year 7s usually manage to make everyone laugh and then occasionally, we have a student steal the show (like last week) with her stage presence and skill in commanding a large audience of wrigglers! The items classes present are entertaining and also often focus on a point of interest about out school - for example, this year already we've seen skits on using the Take 5 and on our Code of Cooperation and getting along in the playground.

Assemblies are a time when we celebrate the successes of our students - in sport (both individually and in teams), in music and in any other area of endeavour. I love to see kids really appreciate the achievements of others - as we did last Friday with our record breaking swimming students from the 2012 Swimming Carnival.

I love that parents come along - and when they walk up the pathway afterwards everyone is smiling.

We also acknowledge Country - a very important tradition for all gatherings in Australia, and we proudly sing our Anthem - both verses! We learn a lot from all being together at least once a week - over the last few years as we have grown from 264 students in 2010 to 464 students in 2011 to 511 students in 2012 to a record breaking 712 students in 2013, I've watched all the space in our Central Covered Games Area gradually disappear under a sea of uniforms. But I'm determined we will continue to meet altogether once a week and somehow find a way to make all those bottoms fit!

There's a time and a place

Photo credit: Coldplay Live 2012

I went to see Coldplay in Brisbane last Wednesday night - what an amazing show! There were lights, fireworks, enormous balloons bouncing over the audience, somewhere in the vicinity of 52 000 people, laser beams, and of course, an incredible band on stage. In the first 10 minutes the enigmatic Chris Martin had managed to say what kids tell me is the 'f-word' about six times.

Did I mind? Hell, no! It was entirely appropriate given the spectacle, the noise, the excitement, the sheer awesomeness (another word we love using these days) of it all.

Swearing appears to be such a part of our vernacular these days. We hear it everywhere - at the movies, on TV, in newspapers, at the shops, and dare I say it - in our own homes. It seems everyone swears these days. I even do my own fair share of swearing! So it makes it quite difficult when we want to stop children swearing at school. We tell them it's wrong and even discipline the continual offenders. Is school the only place where swearing is not allowed? No, of course not! There are many situations in which swearing is completely out of place, and may even be offensive.

Kids swear for many reasons - for effect, to impress their peers, to try out an 'adult' vernacular, as a habit, to assert themselves in the peer group - and while I don't mind listening to Chris Martin swear in between songs, I hate hearing kids swear. I hate hearing my own child swear (even though she insists that now she is 18 she can say what she likes!). Perhaps that's the key - they feel grown up when they can legitimately let fly with a few 'f-words'.

Our roles as parents and educators is to teach about time and place so that swearing becomes a mature choice between expressing yourself intelligently and respectfully or taking a shortcut with a few offensive words. Choosing to swear isn't about a rite of passage - it's about choosing behaviour that demonstrates how you want to seen. This is a useful skill for our children to learn - and maturity is demonstrated through its use.