James’ Message – September 2024

There has been discussion recently about the future direction of the school. We are in the process of formulating our budget for next year and the years beyond which involves staffing and ultimately making decisions on the educational offerings at Orana. We want to work strategically and collaboratively on this. There will be an opportunity for all those interested – parents, friends, staff and senior students to participate in a combined planning session on Thursday 26 September at 4pm. We have already had session with staff and parents discussing vision and values at Orana. Our next step in setting strategic priorities for the next few years. A separate invitation to this strategic planning session will be sent out next week. 

It has been a privilege to be part of the Kindergarten 2025 and Class 1 2025 parent evenings. There is a sense of confidence in our program as well as flexibility in providing for the children who come to us. In these meetings, and in my other communication with parents, there have been questions about our approach to behaviour management.  

Our curriculum and methodology strives to naturally support children to learn social skills in a developmentally appropriate way. Orana’s annual student surveys clearly indicate that the vast majority of students feel safe at school, particularly with their teachers, but there are times when things don’t run as smoothly as we would like for many possible reasons. I think it is important for the whole Orana community to understand our intentions and processes as much of the details of individual cases of behaviour management is kept confidential for good reasons.  

In my discussions with leaders of schools throughout Australia in an array of settings, there has been a noticeable increase in antisocial behaviour in the last few years and schools are exploring ways to deal with this. We know that there have been broader societal concerns about an increase in domestic violence and the exposure of children to inappropriate material online. Our students are not immune from these external influences.  

At Orana, although we don’t have a high rate of extreme antisocial behaviour, such as physical or verbal aggression, it does occasionally occur and we need to deal with it in an appropriate, fair and timely manner to create a safe place for students and staff.  

At Orana we work in a restorative way with behaviour management. This draws on the knowledge of Steiner’s indications of child development and individual child study as well as contemporary approaches such as Restorative Practices and Berry Street Education Model. Working restoratively means that students are involved in resolving matters, showing kindness to each other and it is a learning experience rather than a punitive one. This approach is occurring all the time in classrooms across the school. Our expectations of positive behaviour are high and as students become older, there is an increased expectation to self-manage and set an example to others, not because they have had rules drummed into them, but because they have a sophisticated social understanding of the needs of the whole group. Our ultimate goal is for students to no longer require the intervention of teachers to resolve social or behavioural matters. We see this healthy culture exemplified in our Year 11 and 12 students. In a Steiner school, children’s moral and social development occurs implicitly through modelling and stories. There is also the need sometimes for explicit teaching in this area and the need for rules. Our learning environment values: Safety, Respect, Participation/Effort and Self-responsibilty, are displayed and discussed. We seek to create an environment where children feel empowered to speak up if they are subjected to inappropriate behaviour; where educators are safe people to talk to. When inappropriate behaviour becomes serious or repeated we apply a disciplinary approach. There are occasions when we decide that this school is not the right place for some students as they as they pose too great a risk to themselves and others and they need to have a break from the regular program or move on. Formal consequences such as alternative programs, suspensions and expulsions are implemented in some cases. In these cases, our main concern is for the welfare of the group and rights of students and staff to work and learn in a safe environment.  

So, what can you do as parents to support positive behaviour at school? Model calmness and kindness and appropriate boundaries at home and encourage children to do the same at school. Encourage your child to speak up at school if there is an issue. If, as a parent, you are concerned that behavioural issues haven’t been addressed, please contact your child’s teacher and if you feel that the response is not satisfactory, contact the respective coordinator or deputy. 

We have great confidence in our policies and practices. However, they are continuously being reviewed and improved. If you have questions or suggestions, please contact your child’s teacher or info@oranaschool.com  

I look forward to continuing our work together to create a healthy learning community. 

James Goodlet – Principal