Beyond the Curriculum

Manager Director, Shawn Van der Linden from Altun Counselling and Consulting facilitated a 2-hour professional development for staff on Restorative Relationships and Conflict Resolution.

We reviewed the Science of Learning and discussed the fact that we teach our students;
how to read and write,
how to swim,
how to solve an equation,
how to construct an essay or poem.
Moving forward, we will continue to have a considered and specific emphasis on
how to behave in different situations,
how to be honest,
how to get along with others,
how to be considerate and thoughtful,
how to deal appropriately with strong emotions,
how to be a team player and
how to be a good friend.

Jesus continues to be the greatest teacher and the light for all of us. We know that current research affirms that these skills are just as important to every single child and that our students do not learn these skills by or through osmosis.

Our expectations at SCA are high! Everyday our teachers and every adult at school, model and teach this behaviour. It can be stated that Relationships are the Technology of Teaching. As a staff we discussed a broader approach to effective relationship management amongst all of our key stakeholders in our school community.

Our top key takeaways are:

1. Every adult in a school is a teacher. We are all always teaching, and not just ‘the curriculum’.
2. Neuroscience 101 - Every interaction we have with a young person changes their brain.
3. We are teaching self-regulation and the ‘how to’. We are their pre-frontal cortex as theirs develops!
4. Student development is our focus as adults in a school. Behavioural and cognitive development go together like bacon and eggs!

Moving forward, and building upon this, in Term 4 we will begin our journey as part of the Resilience Project. The Resilience Project delivers emotionally engaging programs to schools, providing practical, evidence-based mental health strategies to build resilience, develop positive relationships and happiness. We will work closely with Hugh van Cuylenburg the Founding Director/ Facilitator. I am sure many of you would have already listened to The Imperfects podcast.

Our SCA Staff are working together to ensure we continue to be a ‘faith filled Catholic learning community of hope, joy and wonder where all are welcome and inspired to grow, in every aspect, to their potential.’