Well-being/Hauora

Positive Behaviour for Learning – School Wide (PB4L-SW)

As a school we have been working with the Ministry of Education and are implementing PB4L-SW.

PB4L-SW Purpose Statement:

The purpose for PB4L-SW at Waitākiri School is to continue to foster a safe and supportive environment where positive relationships and behaviours are valued and ākonga, kaimahi and whānau are empowered to be REAL Heroes making REAL CHOICES. 

Ākonga – students/learners

Kaimahi – all staff

Whānau – our families

PB4L School-Wide looks at behaviour and learning from a whole-of-school as well as an individual child perspective. The framework is based on international evidence and is helping New Zealand schools build a culture where positive behaviour and learning is a way of life. The framework can be tailored to your school’s own environment and cultural needs.

PB4L School-Wide takes at least 3–5 years to put in place. Over this time, schools should see:

1. incidents of problem behaviour decline
2. the behaviour of students improve
3. teachers spending more time teaching
4. students more engaged and achieving.

PB4L School-Wide takes the approach that opportunities for learning and achievement increase if:

1. the school environment is positive and supportive
2. expectations are consistently clear
3. students are consistently taught desired behaviours
4. students are consistently acknowledged for desired behaviours and undesirable behaviours are responded to in a fair and equitable way.

In 2021 we introduced waka groups to Waitākiri.

We have called our groups ‘waka’ (boat) in keeping with the name of our school meaning ‘meandering waters’. All children are placed in whānau (family) groups with other members of their family and will travel in their waka together

as they journey through Waitākiri. Our waka groups will be used for many events during the year. They are like “houses” that you might remember from your school days.

Each waka is represented with a colour.

Mana Ake – Stronger for Tomorrow provides mental health and wellbeing support for children in primary school years 1-8 across Canterbury.
Mana Ake kaimahi (workers) are employed by one of 13 providers and support schools, families and whānau when children are experiencing issues that impact their wellbeing such as managing emotions, anxiety, friendships and bullying, parental separation, grief and loss.

Kaimahi have a diverse range of skills and include psychologists, social workers, counsellors, teachers and youth workers.

Our Kaimahi have helped to run lots of different groups such as friendship groups, the ‘Sunshine’ programme, Year 6 mentoring, Mana Whakatipu (teaching Rakau and bone carving) as well as working with children individually.

They also run twice a term drop in sessions for parents and staff to use.

The sessions are free and are for support, advice or guidance for
parents and staff. They are run via zoom so are ideal for busy parents to be able to attend.

For more information regarding these please see your child’s home teacher or the Learning Support Coordinator, Cindy Hardy.