2020 sees a continuation of Positive Behaviour 4 Learning (PB4L) at Rangiora High School. While this initiative has been operating in school since 2013, a number of aspects were updated in 2019.

A dedicated PB4L Team is tasked with running this initiative, although in reality every single staff member is involved with it in their classroom. With PB4L, we want to promote positive behaviours, and reward them when they happen.

PB4L, in a nutshell, is looking at school systems and practices and making changes to these based on collected data, which may be quantitative (numbers) or qualitative (student and staff voice, surveys etc). The key is for the resulting changes to our practices to be upheld by all staff in all situations. A good example of this is the use of, or access to, cellphones by students. There was a clear message to students in 2019 that cellphones will be “off or on silent, and away”, and all staff will continue to reinforce this message on a regular basis. Note that at times a teacher might ask students to use their cellphones for a specific purpose, such as a Kahoot, however the phones will be “off or on silent, and away” following this.

One of the successes of 2019 was the ‘PB4L Recognitions system’. It is important that we recognise those students upholding our three Lighthouse Values; Respect -Whakautea, Contribute - Tohaina, and Aspire - Wawatahia. Students who demonstrate an outstanding attitude to one of these values is awarded a Recognition by a teacher, and once there are 15 Recognitions for a particular value, a Bronze Lighthouse badge is awarded. Silver and Gold badges follow. In 2019 over 20,000 recognition were awarded by staff. 146 Bronze Badges and 55 Silver Badges were awarded in 2019.

Using this system as soon as a staff member awards the Recognition, the student will receive a text, noting the teacher and the reason for the reward. Once three of these have been received by the student, an automatic email will be sent home to the parent/caregiver. This system strengthens the connection between home and school, and allows you to add your congratulations which in turn cements the initial positive behaviour.

Finally, below is the updated Rangiora High School PB4L matrix. The idea of this is to show the expected positive behaviour in a variety of settings around the campus - this is our “go-to” document and forms the foundation of PB4L in our school.