by Tanya Steele
St Brigid’s Primary school celebrated Harmony Day on 21 March along with the official launch of the school’s positive behaviour for learning (PBL) initiatives.
Students, teachers and parents held an assembly to celebrate and followed it up with craft activities and a sausage sizzle afterwards.
Harmony Day is held on 21 March annually and is also the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Deputy Principal Julie Cook has enjoyed the changes the school has seen while introducing the system.
“If children get rewarded for good behaviour, then they’re more likely to do it again and that’s the approach we’re taking,” she said.
The school decided to officially launch the PBL initiatives with Harmony Day because they fit so well with the themes surrounding the event.
The prep class sang a song at the end of the ceremony and held up a sign “Be Kind” to their audience.
Students then went back to their classes to participate in creative activities with their parents, which were all themed around Harmony Day and the school’s PBL.
Messages on some crafts written by the students included phrases such as “Be Kind” and “Harmony means friendship and peace”.
The PBL system is designed to simplify and structure learning for the students, giving them four tiers of behaviour to strive towards.
Be kind, be respectful, be safe and be responsible are the four PBL that St Brigid’s has introduced to its students.
Using the values throughout the students’ education gives them touchstones to structure their daily routine around.
The values were chosen by the school community and will remain in place for years to come.
Ms Cook can see how the school using this system will stand the students in good stead.
“If you can be safe, responsible and respectful you can live in harmony with others,” she said.
The launch day was a success and enjoyed by the whole school community and families that attended the event.
