Behaviour Education - Play Is The Way

At Wagga Wagga Public School, we understand that building good character is not something to be left to chance. We view Social and Emotional Learning, or “behaviour education” as we call it, as our core business, approaching the teaching of good behaviour with the same dedication as we do Literacy and Numeracy skills. We know that children cannot learn effectively if they are not calm and regulated. We do not expect children to do well in behaviour education if they do not receive the appropriate and necessary education.

We deliver behaviour education through a philosophy called Play is the Way.

The Key Components of Play is the Way (PITW)

It is our belief that personal and social capabilities must be addressed in all learning areas and at every stage of a student’s learning. This is only possible if students and teachers have a language, concepts and understandings that are applicable in all contexts. Play Is The Way sees social and emotional learning as a tide that floats all boats.

Life Raft Concepts

Our School Virtues: Pathway to Empathy

Good Manners

Friendliness

Courage

Persistence/Resilience

Tolerance/Acceptance

Compassion

Reflection Room

If you’re a parent reading this, you might have preconceived ideas about what a Reflection Room is, based on your own experiences with detention as a student. Put these memories aside, because at Wagga Wagga Public School, our Reflection Room isn’t detention with a new name—it’s a completely different approach. We don’t believe in handing out punitive consequences with intention of shaming our students. Instead, when a child makes a poor choice affecting themselves or others, we see it as an opportunity for open and honest conversation to understand their actions and help them develop skills for better choices next time.

Every child makes mistakes—that’s part of growing up and learning. If your child attends the Reflection Room, please don’t worry or assume they’ve been “naughty.” In the Reflection Room, your child meets with a calm and supportive executive member to reflect on their behaviour and work towards positive solutions for next time.

We often try to have these conversations in the classroom or RP room whenever possible, but sometimes children need space and time to calm down before the learning can take place. In some cases, a fresh perspective from another staff member can also help identify ways to help your child. In these instances, our staff would request that your child spend some time in the Reflection Room and you will be notified via email, ensuring clear communication about their personal behaviour education goals.