Background

Around the whole of Australia there is one week called the 'Safe Schools Week' held in September. The Federal Government started a new competition during Safe Schools Week. Many different schools entered the competition and students had to write about their school and how safe it is and how it protects them. Mr Taylor chose four students. We got together in a room and gathered some huge pieces of paper. We took out a big marker pen and started brainstorming about safety at our school. We were amazed at how many things that came up! By the time we finished the papers were full of words and ideas. We hung them up on the blackboard and got out the laptops. We started typing away. By the time we were finished we were exhausted! Well when we finished Mr Taylor entered our entries in and after weeks of waiting in suspense, we found out our results. I came runner-up in the whole of Australia and I received a cheque of $2000 for the school, a letter thanking me and - yay! - an iPod Nano as my reward! It was great fun and thanks to Mr Taylor for entering Brooky in it. These are our entries. I hope you enjoy reading them and learn more about our great school.


By Student 1

1. Describe how your school provides a safe and supportive school environment.

Brookvale Public School has straightforward and sensible rules. They are 'Be Safe, Be Kind and Be Courteous.' If you obey these rules, you get rewarded with Brooky Stars. Brooky Stars is a reward system that is fun for kids and also helps kids to follow our school rules. Children receive prizes after collecting a certain amount of Brooky Stars, such as having lunch with the Principal. If you disobey these rules and get into a fight with someone, our school stops the fight from escalating. We have two programs, Peer Mediation and Peer Support, to help the children from bullying. Peer Mediation is basically about co-operation and building friendships between people in the school. Peer Support is to help children make friends and encourage leadership for Years Five and Six. Peer Support helps the new Kindergartens have more courage in our school and make friends. We also have 'Kindergarten Buddies.' It gives Year Fives a chance of being a role model and to help the new Kindergartens getting around. We also have two School Leaders and eight Prefects. The children in our school look up to the them as role models, so the Prefects and Captains set a good example. I think that our school provides a safe and supportive school environment and it is great for all children to enjoy.


2. What are your school's values and how do they support you?

Our school is a multicultural school and there are children from many different parts of the world who come to our school. Children who come from other parts of the world also have an opportunity to share their culture and religion in scripture. Every Thursday after lunch we have scripture, which is a session for children who belong to a particular religion and go there to learn about their religion, such as Muslim, Christian, Catholic and also Non-Scripture. Our classroom teachers provide work that is suitable for our levels and abilities e.g. extension work, easier work and work that you enjoy. They also give us a wide range of activities and opportunities such as Extension Studies Centre and excursions. We learn about respecting other people's property by not stealing it and return it by giving it back to the owner or one of the teachers. We also learn not to steal and to be honest. After all, you know what they say, honesty is the best policy. Earlier in the year we had been participating in the Aboriginal Reconciliation Writing Competition. We had to write about reconciliation and how we cared about Aboriginals. It was very cruel that the British took away their land. I think that Brookvale Public School's teachers are very caring and they encourage us to do our best at all times, which is very helpful if you are keen to improve your self-esteem. 


3. What does your school do to keep you healthy and accident free?

My school does a lot to keep me and other children healthy and accident free. Not long ago Year 5 and Year 6 joined a healthy and fit program called 'Q4 Live Outside the Box.' The idea was to eat lots of fruit and vegetables and keep exercising every day. Everyone learnt a lot about it and successfully did a great job. Every year a Life Education Van comes to our school too. It is called the Healthy Harold van. It teaches us about not to take drugs or alcohol, eat healthy food and teach us about exercise. Every Wednesday mornings we have a free healthy breakfast at school, run by the P & C group. You can chose from a healthy cereal, fruit and some toast. We have three play areas. The first on is the safe primary equipment, for children in Years 3-6, the second equipment is for Kindergarten to Year 2, and the third one is the passive play area for anyone who doesn't like the action and noise on the play equipment. Brookvale Public School has a strong ‘No hat No play’ policy. It basically means that if you do not have a hat with you at recess and lunch you are not allowed to play on the school equipment. The reason for this is because our school does not want you to have skin cancer when you are older. You have to sit under the trees in the shade, if you don't have a hat, or borrow a hat from someone. I think my school provides lots of healthy opportunities, which is great.


4. How does your school manage incidents of bullying and abuse?

Brookvale Public School tries to stop lots of bullying, because it feels terrible when you get bullied. We manage incidents of bullying in lots of ways. One way is our program of Peer Mediation. Peer Mediation is an anti-bullying program, to stop kids from bullying each other. Peer Mediation is more about being co-operation and building friendships between children in the school and it also gives the Year Sixes a chance to have leadership by Peer Mediating. Peer Support is another thing we do. Peer Support happens every year in term 2. Peer Support helps all children in the school to build friendship and gives Year 5 & 6 a chance to have another go at leadership and organization skills. We also have a Stop Think Do program. Stop Think Do is often for single conflicts. An easy way of remembering to stop think and do is to think of the traffic lights. Stop=Red. Think=Orange. Do=Green. Our non exclusion policy is very strong because nobody wants to be left out. Everyone in the school has learnt not to exclude other people from games. Our non exclusion policy means everyone gets to join into a game, not just the people who get picked by who wanted them to play. 
Now with our Peer Mediation, Peer Support, Stop Think Do and our non exclusion policy, there are few people on detention these days which is a huge improvement. I think my school has a great antibullying system, so any child will be safe from bullies!


5. How does your school work with parents and carers to keep you safe and healthy?

Our school always has a weekly newsletter which includes what is happening in future and how to get prepared. We also send home special notes if needed. If for some reason you can't receive the newsletter, you can check out our school website. It has information of children's work, what's going on and all the excursions we have been on. It also provides the children safe educational internet links. We have a P & C (Parents and Citizens) group which provides us with the healthy breakfast we have and many other activities e.g. Mothers & Father's Days stall and the football parking. Parents are also involved in many things at school, for example excursions, classrooms and sporting events. We also have special activities parents and carers to help us with, e.g. home reading scheme and the Q4 Live Outside The Box program. Our school principal also has an Open Door Policy, which means if you need to tell the principal something urgent you can just knock on the door and go on in. Recently a teacher in our school has started up a pre-school playgroup which is great for little children to come in and play on Wednesday mornings. Parents and carers can also help out with the preschool playgroup too. I think Brookvale Public School is a fantastic school to be at because wherever you come from you'll always feel welcome.

By Student 2.

1. Describe how your school provides a safe and supportive school environment.

One of the ways our school provides a safe environment is through our simple and clear school rules. The school leaders also create a safe environment because they set an example for the younger students by following the rules. In Term 1, we do something called “Our Caring School” in which every class does lessons about bullying and looking after themselves and Year 6 perform plays. Also in Term 1, Year 6 students are trained to become Peer Mediators, so they can help younger children with their problems without intimidating them. Another thing that Year 5 does is that they have Kindy Buddies, so they can show them around the school and help them. In Term 2, the whole school participates in Peer Support. The program teaches kids about co-operation and is an anti-bullying program led by Year 6. We also do another anti-bullying activity called Stop, Think, Do. It helps people with single conflicts. Our reward systems include House Points and Brooky Stars, which both encourage good behaviour. The latter is also worth 10 house points and if someone gets enough, they can get really good rewards, such as a set of pencils, a sharpener and lunch with the Principal.


2. What are your school's values and how do they support you?

Our school allows for and respects a wide range of skills and weaknesses in all areas. We also provide things to help partially disabled children do their work just as well as anyone else. There is also a lot of multiculturalism at our school, so that anyone from overseas will not be excluded because of their skin colour or religion, or feel excluded in those areas. The children also care for each other and work together when they are in groups. The school encourages all children to do the best they can do and be the best they can be. We also have a wide range of activities to participate in, such as our wide range of available sports like tennis. Also, people that are from different religions, such as Muslim, are able to share information and learn about their religion through scripture groups, which are held every Thursday after lunch. We also care and teach about Aborigines. The school values every contribution that the students make, and also tries to create a happy, safe and supportive environment for all children so that no one feels left out.


3. What does your school do to keep you healthy and accident free?

Our school does many things to keep the children healthy and accident free. One of the things we did was the Q4: Live Outside the Box, which was designed to promote healthy lifestyles. We also have a passive play area where there is no very active play allowed. Our play equipment is also safe and some other play equipment (like hoops) are provided by the school. On Wednesday mornings, the school is allowed a free healthy breakfast from the canteen, which also provides healthy foods for recess and lunch as well. Another thing we have is the “no hat, no play” policy where if someone doesn't have a hat, they must sit under the trees to avoid sunburn. The teachers also supervise our play during lunch in case someone gets hurt. We also participated in Electrical Safety Week. Our school also has a variety of sports to do including swimming, gym, rugby league and netball. Year 6 are also viewed as the role models, so they set a good example for the younger children. Another thing that the whole school does is Life Education, which teaches about some of the things that children will experience while they are growing up.


4. How does your school manage incidents of bullying and abuse?

Our school keeps bullying to a minimum through many different activities. One of these is Peer Mediation. In it, the victim and the bully sit down and two Peer Mediators try to fix the problem with words and also try to resolve the problem in a way so that it will never happen again. This can usually be done outside, but if it is a more serious matter, then it might be done inside. Also, in Term 1, we do a program called “Our Caring School”, in which every class learns about bullying and how to be safe from bullying, and also what to do if it occurs. Year 6 also perform plays about bullying to help the younger students understand better. Another thing we do about bullying is the Stop, Think, Do program. It teaches kids to stop, think about the situation and do something sensible based on that information. The other thing we do on bullying is the non exclusion policy, so we don't exclude people from games. We also have safe internet usage, so that kids won't be looking at inappropriate websites. Because of all these things less kids are getting into trouble.


5. How does your school work with parents and carers to keep you safe and healthy?

Our school has a wide range of activities that involve the child's parent or guardian. For example, every Wednesday the school sends home a newsletter to tell the parent about what is happening at the school. The newsletter includes many things such as what has happened during that week, important dates for the school and articles about major things happening in the school. Another way that the parents know about what is happening at the school is through P & C meetings. The school also has a Home Reading Scheme, where the child reads books at home and records them on a sheet to get awards. If the child is young, then they can read with their parents. One thing that we did this year was the Q4: Live Outside the Box. It involves the parents by helping the child have a healthy lifestyle by eating fruit and vegetables and doing lots of active play. We also fundraise for our overnight excursions. Our principal has an Open Door Policy, so that people can come at any time. We also have a school website, which allows parents to easily find out what has happened in the school.

By Student 3.

1. Describe how your school provides a safe and supportive school environment?

Brookvale Public School has simple and sensible rules. They are 'be safe, be kind and be cautious.' We have two captains and 8 prefects in our school. We all give a good example to the younger kids. We have a passive play area in our school. Lots of people go there because they like to have some quiet place to play. In term 1 every class does lessons about bullying and caring for others. The Year 6 children have a day where they learn how to be Peer Mediators. We spend the whole day reading and doing plays. Most of the Peer Mediations help people solve their problems. In the first week Year 5 go to Kindy and pick a buddy. Throughout the year they help the Kindy. Every Monday in Term 2 we have Peer Support.  There are 25 groups and about 8 people go in each group. From lunch until we go home we learn about how to co-operate with others. We have many activities. Many of the kids enjoy it. In 2003 we started Brooky Stars. Brooky Stars is reward system where if you're good or you help people, you get a yellow Brooky Star. When you get 10 yellow stars you get a big green star. After you get 10 big greens go to the principal and get a prize. In term 3 we did Stop, Think, Do. Stop, Think, Do is when if someone pushes you over you stop and think what you are going to do next and then do the right decision.


2. What are you school's values and how do they support you?

Our school is a multicultural school and many people from different parts of the world come to our school. All teachers are creating a happy, supportive environment. On Thursday after lunch, everyone that is religious goes to scripture. There are many groups such as Muslims, Christians and many more. The ones that aren't religious go to non-scripture. Brookvale School teachers respect the individual difference by giving all people work that's suits them e.g. smarter people get extension work and the less smart get easier work but everyone is encouraged. Teachers try to teach the children to respect others for who they are. All the teachers encourage the children do their best at all the times. Everyone in the school has opportunities to try anything they want to do. In Brookvale Public School provides educational and social experiences for all children. The teachers in the school are very kind and helpful and they try to improve your self-esteem.


3. What does your school do to keep you healthy and accident free?

My school does many things to keep us healthy and accident free. In Term 2, Year 5 and 6 did Q4 Live Outside the Box. It was a two week challenge and we had to record how many fruits and vegetables we ate in a day and also how long we exercised. The school provides safe equipment for all the kids to play with. It also has a lot of shade and trees so we can go under them if it's too hot. Our canteen is a healthy canteen. Every Wednesday morning, the canteen holds a free healthy breakfast because some children come to school with empty stomachs. There is toast with butter, fruit and cereal. At lunch time the teachers that supervise kids so they don't get hurt. There is a policy in our school which is if you don't have a hat you can't play. Every Thursday at lunch Year 2 Echo Club go to the frog pond and clean it out by taking sticks and weeds. When Kindy to Year 2 go on excursions they have to put on tags with the schools phone number. In Term 3 we had Electrical Safety Week where classes talked about electricity and what it can do to you. We do many sports such as football, netball, athletics, gym, swimming and AFL.


4. How does your school manage incidents of bullying and abuse?

Brookvale Public School tries to stop a lot of bullying because you feel bad when someone bullies you. Year 6 are the Peer Mediators and do Peer Mediation training in Term 1. If someone has a problem they come to one of the Year 6 and tell them that they need a Peer Mediation. The Peer Mediator goes and gets the other person and they have a Peer Mediation. Most of the Peer Mediations end in a positive way. The other thing that the school does is Peer Support. Peer Support runs every Monday of Term 2. Year 6 and 5 are the leaders and they run the group. In term 3 we had the Stop, Think, Do sessions. Stop is when you stop what you are about to do and then think is when you think what you are going to do. Do is when you made the right decision and you do it. The traffic light represents, Red: Stop, Yellow: Think, Green: Do. We have a thinking seat. When you get in trouble on the playground the teacher sends you to the thinking seat, then you have to think about what you have done and why. It is designed so they kids won't do the same thing again. The school has a policy where you can't exclude anyone from your game or group because then the person will feel lonely. It also has an Internet Policy were you have to sign the paper in order to use the Internet. If you are using it wrongly you will be banned from it.


5. How does your school work with parents and carers to keep you safe and healthy.
 
Brookvale Public School gives newsletters to the parents every Wednesday. In the newsletter there are important dates and it tells you what the students have been doing in school. There is also the school website. The website shows kids' work and excursions that have been happening in the school. When the parents need to see the principal, they are more than welcome because Mr. Richard takes time to listen to you. Year 5 and 6 parents got involved with Q4 - Live Outside the Box by making sure that their kids are eating healthy fruit and vegetables. Parents also help their children with Home Reading. Home Reading is when kids sit down with their parents and read with them or to them. After they read the book the parent/carer writes down the book and signs it. The next day they bring it into school and show it their teacher. Every time you read 25 books you get an award. Every term we have Special Lunch Day and some parents help butter the bread and help cut the fruit. Parents also give children lifts to the zone carnivals and supervise them. Sometimes they go on excursions to help teachers get organized. Every first Tuesday of the month P & C get together. P & C mean Parents and Citizens. They talk about what should be done with the money the school has. They do a lot of fundraising like when there is a football game in Brookvale Oval, or organise cake stalls. When Year 4, 5 and 6 go on the overnight excursion the school gives us chocolates to fundraise for the trip. It's very useful because some families wouldn't be able to go. The normal budget would be $120 but the kids pay $30.

By Student 4.

1. Describe how your school provides a safe and supportive school environment.

We have a program called Peer Mediation that gets the Year 6 students to sort out a conflict problems between children. This may happen more than once. We also have a program called Peer Support where the Years 5 & 6 teach the younger years to co-operate and not to bully each other on Mondays. Not only that but we have a Buddy System with Year 5 and Kindergarten inwhich Year 5 choose a Kindergarten Buddy to be their friend and teach them about the school and our rules. Connected with Peer Mediation we have Stop Think Do.  In Stop, Think Do it teaches children not to react and to think about what to do. Our school rules are 'be safe, be kind and be courteous.' We also have something that applies to the whole school which is a reward system called ‘Brooky Stars’. The rewards can include pencils, sharpeners, highlighters or lunch with the principal at the Mall. We also get House Points when we get Brook Stars and when we do good deeds. The House Points get presented every 2 weeks at assembly and the house that wins gets the House Cup.   


2. What are your school's values and how do they support you?

Our school caters for all nationalities and religions that want to come to our school and learn about everything. Teachers set work for certain people that are easier or harder for children who need help or are always in front of the work. We also teach the children to respect others differences. If someone is lacking confidence we encourage them to do the best they can do. We also provide excursions for the children of our school so they can learn in a way that they can see the artefacts or information that the class lessons has been teaching them. If some people work good and hard enough in class they may be sent to an Extension Study Centre but this may only apply to Year 6. Also all children in the 3rd Term participate in a gymnastics program where they can learn to do things in their life that may help them. Also connected to the Multiculturalism we have Scripture where the kids learn more about their religions.


3. What does your school do to keep you healthy and accident free?

Earlier this year we had a program called Q4 Live Outside the Box which is a record of the healthy activities like eating vegetables, fruit and the exercise you do in a day. When the book was finished we handed it to our teacher and a nurse came and analysed our forms, we also received a certificate of a certain colour depending on our ranking. We also have passive play areas which are for children who do not like to play very active games or are tired or need to get away from all the noise. Also on every Wednesday morning we have what's called the ‘Healthy Breakfast’ in which the children who arrive from 8:30 to 9:15am can choose to eat a freshly served free breakfast. The breakfast can contain healthy cereals, a piece of fruit and two slices of toast. There is also a policy that is called ‘No Hat No Play’ which means that if you do not have a hat you must sit under the shade or find a spare hat that the school may provide. We also have a supervised lunch and recess so that we don't get hurt and that we actually eat something. We also have an Eco Club that collects fruit scraps for our worm farm. Also during lunch and recess we can use the equipment that the school provides. We can use the computers but we have a Safe Internet Policy that we can says to only use the computers for research for projects and school software. 


4. How does your school manage incidents of bullying and abuse?

My school manages bullying and abuse with Peer Mediation. In Peer Mediation, two Year 6’s sit with the group of children or just sit with the two kids who created the problem. We have to help them sort the problem out. Also again we have Stop Think Do, that program once again is like Peer Mediation but with single conflict. Once again we sit down with the children and we talk to them about the problem that has happened or just sit them down on the thinking seat that is an ordinary bench. We also do role plays in our school assemblies to teach children about Peer Mediation and we put posters designed by Year 6 to show children that Peer Mediation is not a bad thing. We can also use the Safe Internet Policy to stop Internet abuse or bullying.


5. How does your school work with parents and carers to keep you safe and healthy?

Our school hands out a weekly newsletter that comes with the notes that the children take home. The newsletter contains information that the school has been doing in the past few days/weeks or is planning to do in the future. If you lose your copy of the newsletter or any other note you can get some from the notes boxes that most classes have. Our school also has its own website that contains some of the children's work or excursions that the children have been on. The parents can check both of these to see all the things the children have done. Our website also contains safe educational internet links that the world and the children can use. The school also holds regular P&C (Parents and Citizens) and School Council meetings that parents can attend. Some parents even work at the school for the school to use for educational resources. Our parents also had to help with Q4 Live Outside the Box and they also have to help with a program called Home Reading. Our principal has a open door policy in which you can just walk into his office. We also have a Pre-school Playgroup that the parents help with. Also when the children go on an overnight excursion we can choose to take a few boxes of chocolates home from a company to sell for the money for the camp.