As part of CVPS’s Site Improvement Plan, our school has partnered with an organisation called Real Schools. All staff participated in our Introductory Student Free Day earlier this term. It was a valuable learning day, with staff participating in a number of hands-on activities to use/support our students.

Essentially, Real Schools work hand-in-hand with our school across three years to implement Restorative Practices as the underpinning methodology of our School Culture. This approach to Restorative Practice is an upgraded version of what you might be imagining and respects both the business and the busyness of contemporary Australian schools. Focused on “low investment, high return” changes that trigger both quick wins and sustainable practice commitments, what is called ‘RP2.0’ is an update in teacher practice and cultural leadership. This is no ‘program’ – it’s a commitment to our school’s preferred future.

One of the first changes we’ll be making is to become more conscious about the language we use to create an environment where kids can grow and thrive. What the research on school culture (and that also applies to classroom culture) shows is that it’s the language we, as adults, use that is the most influential factor.

 And so, from our recent learning, we’ll be slowly adjusting our language in a few key ways including:

• Affective Language
• Stored Responses
• Positive Priming

We’ll be sharing what this looks like to the wider school community in Term 1 next year. In Term 1, Real Schools will run a parent session, model in 2025 classrooms and also speak at our Week 8 Governing Council meeting.

At CVPS, we are very excited about how Restorative Practices can/does contribute to making our school one where community matters. We care for each other, and the feelings generated by being a part of our school are ones that reflect a commitment to being positive, safe and friendly.