Golden Time

Other Positive Rewards Circle Time

GOLDEN TIME is our school’s process for teaching social and behavioural skills, so the main focus can be on teaching and learning. It benefits all students and supports them to develop strategies and take ownership of their own behaviour and choices.
GOLDEN TIME is a school wide system and is in line with our school vision of “Be The Best That You Can Be” and supports our school values and Hauora. It is a classroom based programme.

The Golden Rules

  • We are polite.
  • We are responsible learners.
  • We follow instructions.
  • We are kind and gentle.
  • We are honest.

How Golden Time Works

Students begin the week with 30 minutes of reward time banked. They can use this time to do a variety of activities, which they have suggested, including sports, dance, toys, quiet room…
If students break a GOLDEN RULE they are given a warning and reminded of expectations. If after a warning they continue to break the rules within a block, the warning turns into lost Golden Time minutes (5 minutes for Seniors and 1 minute for Juniors). If after a warning they change their behaviour, at the end of the block their name is removed and they have a fresh start.
Once a student has lost minutes, they can earn it back, 1 minute at a time, by exhibiting positive choices and following the Golden Rules.
Just like with learning, sometimes children need a helping hand to find success with behaviour. Extra supports are put in place for these children.

Golden Tickets

Teachers award these for positive behaviour choices when children follow the GOLDEN RULES.

Going For Gold Postcards

The Principal awards these when a student has collected 15 Golden tickets. These acknowledge continued good choices. These are posted home.

Golden Rules Bands

These are awarded when a student has collected 3 Going for Gold cards. These acknowledge continued good choices.

Other Positive Rewards

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Whanau Points/Stickers

Teachers and support staff award these for positive behaviour, good work, returned homework, keeping KC, showing values. They are given one at a time with a maximum of 3 for outstanding contributions.

Positive Emails to Whanau

Teachers like to share celebrations with our whanau about successes at school. These could be academic, social, cultural, sporting or linked to our school values.

Star of the Week

Each week a child from each class is chosen to be star of the week. This includes many privileges e.g. sitting up on the ‘star chair’ and being line leader. Star of the week receives a certificate that is presented during an assembly where parents are also invited. Classmates record positive comments on this certificate as part of the celebration.

Class Certificates

Teachers award certificates to pupils for academic, social, cultural, sporting or other success. These are shared in class.

Caught Being Good Tickets

The Head and Deputy Head Students award these to students who display the schools values and positive behaviour choices in the playground. They go into a raffle and are announced each week in awards assembly.

Principal Values Awards

Each week the principal awards certificates to pupils who have consistently displayed our School Values.

Principal Choice Certificates

Each week the principal awards certificates to pupils who have had an excellent week and stepped up in some way.

Respect Cards

Respect is our Number 1 value and we spend time teaching our students what this may look like, feel like and sound like. Cards are awarded each week to anyone displaying this value

Circle Time

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Circle time is timetabled once a week and follows the Jenny Mosely model.
This is a positive programme that ‘teaches’ students to develop strategies to manage their own behaviour. It promotes a culture of support and gives students the opportunity to solve problems together, offer support and praise each other and receive praise.

Circle time is divided into five sections:

  • MEET UP – this reinforces the rules around circle time (no names, taking turns, you can pass, confidentiality). To get the children ready for learning there may be an opening sentence starter, eg If I was an animal I would be a …… because…

  • WARM UP – this involves a short game or thought provoking question. The aim is to settle the students and get them ready for thinking.

  • OPEN UP – this is where students develop strategies, learn about each other, develop empathy and understanding around the impact of their actions and how to be a positive role model rather than a negative influencer. The discussion can be around issues that are happening for the children, that they bring to the circle OR can be a teacher directed issue, to help support a wider range of strategies and understandings.

  • CHEER UP/CELEBRATE SUCCESS – The Cheer Up part is a fun game to finish the session. The Celebrate Success part gives children to thank or congratulate their peers and to learn to accept praise also.

  • CALM DOWN – This is where we settle back down ready to focus on the next lesson. This can be listening to music, mindfulness…

School Culture

Our School culture is reflected in our Values of Respect, Integrity, Confidence, Personal Excellence, Love of Learning and Community Involvement.
All Staff model our school values and respectful interactions with each other.
We timetable programmes including DARE, KOS, Life Education, Kia Kaha…to teach strategies to support our values system.

Whanaungatanga – A Sense Of Family Connection

We involve our whanau and our local community in a number of ways including:

  • Our school facebook page.
  • Positive emails home.
  • Sharing assemblies.
  • Student Pathways - parent and student voice.
  • School Newsletter.
  • Class Newsletter.
  • Positive GT postcards.
  • Surveys.
  • SENCO and other meetings (school, whanau, agency)
  • Visiting performers.
  • Use of Moeraki Marae Educational Liaison Specialist.

Tuakana Teina – Peer Support

We allow many opportunities for students to lead and support. This support includes:

  • Leadership roles
    • Within the classroom teachers have class monitors
    • Y7/8 Students are all given a Leadership role within the school (eg Head Student, Assembly Leader). They are supported to develop strategies for leading, enhance our School Values and Rules, model what a role model is to other students.
  • Student Council
    • This is led by the Head and Deputy Head Student with support. It promotes student voice within the school.
  • PALS
    • student leaders act as mentors and peer support at break and lunchtimes.
  • Buddy Class
    • students collaborate at various times under the big brother–sister model.