School-Wide Positive Behaviour for Learning (SW-PB4L)
The culture of Wairarapa Cobham Intermediate is built around four values that are evident in all aspects of the school. Respectful, Responsible, Resilient and Positive are values that are promoted widely as 3RP to promote appropriate behaviours and to encourage lifelong learning.
What is SW-PB4L at Wairarapa Cobham?
The best way to answer this is to use an analogy – in this case a road. A road environment is designed to ensure maximum driver engagement and safety, a positive experience and pave the way for ultimate success with a journey. Likewise SW-PB4L aims to do the same at Wairarapa Cobham – enable maximum student engagement, a positive experience and success with their journey of learning.
The four values below (3RP) are our lines, signposts etc. initially indicating what we expect of all people in our learning environment. As with yellow lines on a road though, there is more meaning to each value therefore students need to understand what each one means in each setting of the school. Therefore, students are taught how to show 3RP in every aspect of their lives at school (and hopefully beyond). For instance – What do respectful, responsible, resilient and positive people do when using a digital device for learning?
How are values/behaviours taught?
Think of behavioural problems as a gap in a child’s learning – we teach to fill the gap. To learn to behave appropriately, students must be directly taught replacement behaviours, that is, missing social skills or appropriate ways of responding. To retain new behaviours, students must be given specific feedback and opportunities to respond in a variety of settings. Just like learning the road code and then applying it on the open road with a driving instructor.
How are appropriate behaviours/values acknowledged?
When a student exhibits one of our school values (3RP), they can earn a Gotcha. The issuing of a Gotcha recognises and rewards a behaviour we value at Wairarapa Cobham. Students can also earn 25 Gotchas for specific responsibilities and representations within the school, for example, representing a Wairarapa Cobham sporting team.
What happens with the Gotchas?
Students record their Gotchas on a recording sheet. When a student receives a certain number of Gotchas (see below), they can earn a 3RP badge that will be awarded in class or at an assembly. In addition, students who earn gotchas each week are entered in a weekly draw for prizes (vouchers etc.) presented at assemblies. Major prizes are awarded at end of term assemblies.
