Student WellbeingThe school aims to provide a positive, stimulating, secure, safe, happy and caring environment conducive to optimal learning, where mutual cooperation and respect is evident. Our Student Wellbeing focus is on Primary Prevention and Intervention. We aim to empower individuals and teams to enable a sense of connectedness, purpose and zest for life. We seek to help build self confidence, self esteem and resilience in order for our students to approach future life experiences, opportunities and challenges with self-assurance and energy. Our whole school student wellbeing program is based on the You Can Do It, Program Achieve. It incorporates a suite of additional programs based on our values, a philosophy of prevention and early intervention, thinking skills (Habits of the Mind) and social emotional learning (Emotional Intelligence development). Our focus is on expectations rather than rules, consequences rather than punishments and problem solving rather that conflict. Our dialogue with children is characterised by expressions such as getting along, cooperation and respect. Our two week Learning Community program, implemented across the school at the start of Term 1 each year, is a vital part of setting up a classroom culture of respect, co-operation and positive relationships. We provide a child centred, developmentally appropriate learning environment that recognises, fosters and promotes the intellectual, social, emotional and physical development of each child. We understand that many children have unique wellbeing and learning needs and we are committed to addressing these needs. The school introduced an Emotional Intelligence (E.I.) program commencing with the leadership team and then the staff with support and professional development provided by Swinburne University, Brain Sciences Unit. The aim is to further develop teacher awareness, teacher empathy and to promote social, emotional and physical wellbeing for both students and staff. We have a clear Anti-Bullying Policy and support the DEECD strategy 'Safe Schools are Effective Schools'. This highlights that every student has the right to feel safe from bullying at school. Bullying is when someone, or a group of people, upset or create a risk to another person's health and safety - either psychologically or physically - or their property, reputation or social acceptance on more than one occasion. Cyber bullying is bullying that is carried out through an internet service, such as email, chat room, discussion group or instant messaging. It can also include bullying through mobile phone technologies such as short messaging service (SMS). Examples of cyber bullying include teasing, spreading rumours online, ending unwanted messages, or defamation." All forms of bullying, whether it be physical, verbal or cyber are not tolerated at any level in Glendal Primary School. When they arise they are dealt with firmly and promptly. The key Values that encapsulate the essence of Glendal's culture include: Respect Cooperation Persistence Tolerance OptimismWhat is Emotional Intelligence?'Emotional Intelligence: the bridge from potential to achievement'Emotional Intelligence development is part of our student well-being program here at Glendal Primary School and we are working with Swinburne University Brain Sciences Unit to develop the EI of the leadership team, staff and students. Improving Emotional Intelligence has been demonstrated to promote young people's academic success and achievement, health and well-being and provide them with skills for their personal and working lives. Emotional Intelligence is often referred to as "EQ" or "EI", contrasting with "IQ". "Emotional Literacy" is used by many to refer to Emotional Intelligence skills. "Emotional Intelligence" refers to our ability to control those aspects of our lives which are associated with emotions. The concept is associated particularly with the name of Daniel Goleman, an American psychologist. His work has been influential in the world of business, where increased personal effectiveness is very important. It has also been influential in educational circles. Emotional Intelligence development includes recognizing, naming and managing our emotions, calming ourselves when angry, developing caring and concern for others, establishing positive relationships, making responsible decisions, and handling challenging situations constructively and ethically. Please click on the links below to download PDF attachments | 