Circle Time

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Circle time is timetabled once a week and follows the Jenny Mosely model.

This is a positive programme that ‘teaches’ students to develop strategies to manage their own behaviour. It promotes a culture of support and gives students the opportunity to solve problems together, offer support and praise each other and receive praise.

Circle time is divided into five sections:

• MEET UP – This reinforces the rules around circle time (no names, taking turns, you can pass, confidentiality). To get the children ready for learning there may be an opening sentence starter, e.g. If I was an animal I would be a …… because…
• WARM UP – This involves a short game or thought provoking question. The aim is to settle the students and get them ready for thinking.
• OPEN UP – This is where students develop strategies, learn about each other, develop empathy and understanding around the impact of their actions and how to be a positive role model rather than a negative influencer. The discussion can be around issues that are happening for the children, that they bring to the circle OR can be a teacher directed issue, to help support a wider range of strategies and understandings.
• CHEER UP/CELEBRATE SUCCESS – The Cheer Up part is a fun game to finish the session. The Celebrate Success part gives children to thank or congratulate their peers and to learn to accept praise also.
• CALM DOWN – This is where we settle back down ready to focus on the next lesson. This can be listening to music, mindfulness…

School Culture

Our School culture is reflected in our Values of Respect, Integrity, Confidence, Personal Excellence, Love of Learning and Community Involvement.

All Staff model our school values and respectful interactions with each other.

We timetable programmes including DARE, KOS, Life Education, Kia Kaha… to teach strategies to support our values system.

Whanaungatanga – A Sense Of Family Connection

We involve our whanau and our local community in a number of ways including:

• Our school Facebook page.
• Positive emails home.
• Sharing assemblies.
• School Newsletter.
• Class Newsletter.
• Positive GT postcards.
• Surveys.
• SENCO and other meetings (school, whanau, agency)
• Visiting performers.
• Use of Moeraki Marae Educational Liaison Specialist.

Tuakana Teina – Peer Support

We allow many opportunities for students to lead and support. This support includes:

Leadership roles

• Within the classroom teachers have class monitors.
• Y7/8 Students are all given a Leadership role within the school (eg Head Student, Assembly Leader). They are supported to develop strategies for leading, enhance our School Values and Rules, model what a role model is to other students.

PALS

• Student leaders act as mentors and peer support at break and lunchtimes.

Buddy Class

• Students collaborate at various times under the big brother–sister model.