Wellbeing

At our school, student wellbeing and learning go hand in hand. We want every student to feel safe, included and ready to learn. Whether your child needs help with their mental, emotional, social or physical wellbeing, we are here to help them thrive at school and in daily life.

How we support student wellbeing

Supporting each student’s mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing is part of everyday school life.

We do this through:

teachers who help students feel welcome and included
access to school counsellors, school psychologists and specialist staff
programs that support health, social skills, attendance and positive behaviour
help for students who are new or changing year levels
clear expectations for behaviour and respectful relationships
staff who get to know each child and work closely with families
developing health care plans for students
open communication about wellbeing and support.

Visit Our principal and staff to learn about our wellbeing and specialist support staff.

Need support for your child's wellbeing?

Get in touch to talk about the right support for your child.

background

light

Berry Street Education Model

At Portland Central School, we are committed to fostering a vibrant learning community focused on empowering every student to engage and excel academically. Our mission is to create an environment that maintains high expectations for all learners, promoting a sense of belonging and nurturing positive relationships that enhance their educational experience.

To support students' preparation for learning, we emphasise resilience-building and self-regulation while prioritising their wellbeing and inclusion. By addressing stress-related behaviours and unmet needs, we ensure that each learner feels supported and connected. Our goal is to boost student engagement in both their coursework and the school community, equipping them with essential skills to retain knowledge and thrive academically.

We envision a whole-school culture that encourages growth, self-awareness, and appreciation of each student's unique strengths.

Our strategies to achieve this vision include:

Explicit teaching of strategies

Clear instruction on learning strategies and expectations will be provided to help students engage effectively.

Support for readiness to learn

We will identify students who are not ready to learn and offer targeted interventions to help them re-engage.

Clear signage and common language

A school environment featuring clear signage and a unified language will reinforce expectations and strategies.

Structured start of day

Each day will commence with a consistent morning routine that positively transitions students into learning.

Engagement in playground and classroom

We will encourage positive interactions in both settings, fostering social skills and peer relationships.

Point-of-need support

Teachers will address individual learning needs as they arise, providing timely assistance to facilitate engagement.

Recaps and reflections

Incorporating recaps and reflections at the beginning and end of lessons will help reinforce learning and assess understanding.

Consistent and predictable routines

Establishing predictable routines will create a stable environment conducive to learning.

background

dark

Additionally, we implement practices such as brain breaks for mental recharging, positive primers to set an engaging tone at the start of lessons, and R2L (Ready to Learn) check-ins to assess students' readiness for learning. Repair conversations will be used to resolve conflicts and maintain a positive environment, and morning greetings will foster rapport and a sense of belonging.

By following these strategies, we aim to ensure that every student at Portland Central School feels equipped, engaged and ready to learn, thereby cultivating a culture of success and growth.

School Wide Expectations

School Wide Expectations (SWE) is a fundamental part of Portland Central School’s behaviour policy. It was created to ensure all students understand and abide by same appropriate standard of behaviour.

Safe

Keep hands and feet to ourselves.
Remain in the right place at the right time.
Use devices appropriately.
Use resources correctly.
Keep objects in suitable places.
Wear our uniform with pride.

Respectful

Speak quietly and politely.
Use appropriate language.
Acknowledge and uphold the rights of others.

Learners

Allow learning to happen.
Listen to and follow instructions.
Remain on task and work hard.
Be prepared and positive.
Do your personal best.
Ask for help when required.

SWE Rewards

Teachers provide reward points to students who work hard and try their best every day. Students use these points to purchase prizes through the SWE online shop when they reach the required number of points.

The top 20 earning students are invited to attend a rewards excursion at the end of each year.

background

off white

Additional learning support

Find out how we support students with disability or additional learning needs.

Our principal and staff

Get to know our principal and staff, who work together to create a positive school culture.