Series: Positive learning environments

By Education Gazette editors

Issue: Volume 102, Number 4

Posted: 8 May 2023

Reference #: 1HA_mY

This series brings together the informative and inspiring mahi of early learning centres, kōhanga reo, schools and kura across the motu to create and support positive, inclusive, and safe learning environments.
We also highlight articles that support the mission of Bullying-Free New Zealand Week; an annual nationwide initiative raising awareness of how to prevent and respond to bullying and provide an opportunity for schools to highlight their everyday work to counter bullying.

Small ripples create big waves

He kōtuinga mahi iti, he hua pai-ā rau. Bullying-Free New Zealand Week is all about focusing on the positive mahi already happening in school communities across Aotearoa.

Empowering ākonga to conquer bullying

Two ‘Bullying Prevention Superstar’ schools talk about their approach to fostering safe and inclusive environments, with students leading the charge.

Wellbeing at the heart of positive learning environment

Frimley School in the Hawke’s Bay school has a strong focus on wellbeing and identity, which principal Tim White believes is helping to address some of the factors at the heart of bullying behaviours.

Accentuating the positive facilitates learning

Balclutha Primary School has managed a phenomenal shift in school culture in recent years using the Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) framework.

Te Ao Māori grounding for wellbeing mahi

In a small community where everyone is inter-connected, a mid-Canterbury kāhui ako is successfully focusing its collaboration on student wellbeing using a Te Ao Māori approach underpinned by a lot of data.

Ākonga voice central to wellbeing project

In 2022, ākonga at Napier Girls’ High School were the first in Aotearoa New Zealand to contribute to the Student Wellbeing Measures project – development of a wellbeing measures and measuring tool.

Nurturing the confidence, capabilities, and wellbeing of tamariki

Having a strong emphasis on wellbeing is one way that schools can create a more inclusive environment. A report in 2022 looked at themes and narratives from six schools on a journey to enhance the wellbeing of students.