At Quarry Bay School we believe that learning extends beyond just the academic skills. To develop into well rounded citizens of the future, students also need to be taught ways to develop a positive mindset, to be resilient and learn from mistakes, be fully engaged in learning so it is meaningful and purposeful in their life, and to foster and nurture their strengths to help them be the best they can be.
We believe it’s important for students to develop positive relationships and a strong understanding of their emotions and the emotions of others. We want our students to have strong problem-solving strategies and to strive for positive outcomes, challenge themselves with grit and determination and to have fun! We want learning to be playful and age appropriate whilst also having high personal standards, passion and an interest in what they are learning and in the people around them.
As a school we have a personal approach to relationships, we know our students well. Our culture is one of kindness, care, mutual respect, feeling happy and doing well.
Together we established three core essential agreements that ground respectful relationships in the school. These are as follows:
Let’s be the best we can be by:
- Being respectful
- Being responsible
- Looking for positive
Restorative Practice
When relationships go wrong we need to teach students ways to rebuild the relationship and to move forward positively. We acknowledge that everyone makes mistakes and we must learn from these and make good choices. When behaviours are unexpected, we encourage students to discuss what the expected choice would be and how they would show this in the future.
We use restorative practice when managing unexpected behaviour. Teachers and students meet together during a ‘restorative conversation’ to reflect on what went wrong and the consequences of their behaviour on others. Through this, relationships can be repaired and those involved are able to move on in a positive way in their future interactions and relationships.