From the Principal

Is it appropriate to say out loud?

At Norwood Primary we continuously strive to instil the qualities of our 3Rs……

RESPECTFUL          RESPONSIBLE          RESILIENT

Part of developing the skills and dispositions of the 3Rs is being conscious and considerate of what we say. What is said in just a split second may cause offense, ongoing stress and at times fear.

It takes responsibility of individuals to choose words that are respectful and appropriate, and also the resilience to maintain respectful language even when things go wrong.

Inappropriate and disrespectful talk is NOT part of any school curriculum; it’s not taught and certainly not acceptable within any school context, and in the main is not socially acceptable.

It appears to now be common place for media to air, and at times actively promote disrespectful and unkind interactions between people as a part of ‘entertainment drama’ particularly within what is termed as ‘reality’ productions. Unfortunately, we sometimes see similar behaviour playing out within the school context, particularly the playground. Children learn from what they see and hear and it is up to all of us to actively encourage and model the behaviour and language that we expect from our children.

At present we have needed to have a more focussed approach to reminding and teaching our expectations in regards to appropriate talk at school. We often say …… ‘just because a thought may pop into your head, it doesn’t mean it is appropriate to say out loud!’

The following diagram is a great visual for discussions about stopping and thinking before we speak.

Thank you for your ongoing support to ensure all our children develop these important skills.

Karen