Wellbeing
At Derinya Primary School we pride ourselves in creating a safe, positive and supportive learning environment for our whole school community. We understand that students reach their full potential only when they are happy, healthy, safe, connected to their environment, and that a positive school culture helps to engage students and support them in their learning. Our school acknowledges that student wellbeing and student learning outcomes are closely linked.
Staff at Derinya:
- form positive relationships with their students
- promote student voice and agency
- hold high expectations of all students
- create a safe, welcoming and inclusive classroom
- Co-construct classroom essential agreements to establish a positive learning environment.
- Engage in restorative conversations to manage conflict / behaviour.
Teachers support students to develop social and emotional skills. They can also help students develop a positive attitude about self, school and civic engagement. These skills and attitudes support academic engagement.
GEM
The Derinya GEM (Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness) program, developed by our student health and well being team caters for the pro social and emotional development of all children through explicit classroom teaching. Our efforts in social and emotional learning are highly valued and ripple through the school continually.
It is common practice to see classrooms brainstorming and discussing the power of gratitude and ways in which we can demonstrate this. Being empathetic to those around us and developing an understanding of how we are all different, have varying needs and being empathetic and respectful of each other is regularly taught. If you were to visit classrooms, you may also experience a range of mindfulness activities taking place to support students in being regulated and ready to learn.
Values
At Derinya Primary School our core values are ingrained within the school community. With our seven key values, we teach, model and uphold on a daily basis. Our Student Wellbeing Leaders present ‘Values Leaves’ to individual students who have displayed one or more of our school values at assembly each week, which promotes the development of each value across the school.
In our classrooms, students learn about each of the key characteristics behind each value and they will learn, model, role play, discuss and highlight our school values regularly.
The Derinya Primary School Values are:
Humour
Integrity
Friendship
Optimism
Resilience
Responsibility
Respect
Zones of Regulation
At Derinya Primary School, the Zones of Regulation provides a common language to support positive mental health and skill development for all, while serving as an inclusion strategy for neurodiverse learners, those who have experienced trauma, and/or have specific needs in terms of social, emotional, and behavioural development.
The four zones students navigate between are:
The Red Zone is used to describe extremely heightened states of alertness and intense emotions. A person may be elated or experiencing anger, rage, devastation, or terror when in the Red Zone.
The Yellow Zone is also used to describe a heightened state of alertness and elevated emotions, however one has more control when they are in the Yellow Zone. A person may be experiencing stress, frustration, anxiety, excitement, silliness, the wiggles, or nervousness when in the Yellow Zone.
The Green Zone is used to describe a calm state of alertness. A person may be described as happy, focused, content, or ready to learn when in the Green Zone. This is the zone where optimal learning occurs.
The Blue Zone is used to describe low states of alertness and down feelings such as when one feels sad, tired, sick, or bored.
DACE
The Derinya Art & Craft Exhibition (DACE) is Derinya’s oldest and most prestigious fundraising event. With its origins dating back to the 1980s, DACE is an event that spans a full weekend, celebrating local artists in a variety of mediums. The Derinya Stadium is transformed into a stunning art gallery which plays host to the Friday night launch function, followed by a weekend of casual visitors enjoying the art works and pop-up café.
Community Events
Each year plays host to a variety of Derinya School Community events. The Derinya Fair and Colour-Run occur every second year, Derinya Art & Craft Exhibition (DACE) is held annually and a variety of other events pop up throughout. We start each year with a welcome back picnic.
Transition
High School Transition Information
The transition process at Derinya begins in late April, usually around the start of Term Two. At this time, a Transition Pack is sent to all year six families. This Transition Pack outlines:
- A letter from the Regional Director
- Frequently asked questions
- A list of schools in the region
- An application form for Yr 7 Placement
- Information on local secondary schools
These transition packs also include application forms which are populated with information from the DET computer system, including your local zoned High School information and must be returned to Derinya by a specified date in mid-May.
All local secondary schools run school tours and these are advertised on their websites. To help you understand the different programs that each school offers it is advised that you attend all school tours that interest you.
If you are appealing to get into a local high school you will find out the required information that you need to submit by attending these school tours.
Attending high school tours, reading information carefully and returning paperwork on time is a great way to make the transition process run smoothly for your child.