Positive school behaviour celebrated at Teach Meet

PBS4L

Around one hundred teachers, educators and leaders from throughout the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta (CEDP) have come together for a special TeachMeet event to share ideas and collaborate on how best to develop and implement a positive behaviour framework that can benefit every school community throughout the Diocese.

A TeachMeet is an opportunity for teachers to get together to share successes, practical tips and learning.

Holy Family Primary East Granville hosted the event and was proud to showcase how it has developed its Positive Behaviour Support for Learning (PBS4L) culture since it was launched at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This positive behaviour framework helps schools create a culture that supports both learning and wellbeing.

Holy Family’s school and PBS4L mascot Bukbuk stood by the school’s front gate to warmly welcome those attending Teach Meet. Bukbuk was designed and created by students with the help of Joshua Sly from CEDP’s Jarara Cultural Centre. Schools adopt a fun mascot to help promote positive behaviour at school as part of the framework.

PBS4L

“I am so excited,” said Rebecca French, PBS4L Leader at Holy Family .” It is an absolute honour and we are so grateful that everyone has made the trip to Granville. Today is about how we can share ideas throughout our Diocese to ensure that equity occurs in all Catholic schools.”

“It's about developing a framework to help our students become more regulated in their behaviours and the development and implementation of school-based expectations,” said Principal Cheryl Fortini. “In following those expectations, we have more engaged students which in turn benefits their learning and of course their social skills which helps everyone get along with one another.”

After a casual meet and greet over afternoon tea, those in attendance heard from Principal Cheryl Fortini before CEDP’s Director of Wellbeing Dr Greg Elliott explained how a positive behaviour framework is vital to supporting an entire school community.

“A lot of people say that culture is just 'the way we do things around here' and PBS4L is certainly the way we do things but it's more than that,” said Dr Elliott. “It's the way we feel about the way we do things. It's the way we own the way we do things.”

“It's the little things. It's the language we choose to use. It's the way we relate to each other professionally. It's the way that we plan for and construct a phone call with a parent. It's the time that we put into developing relationships with students, with parents, with each other.”

PBS4L

Cheryl Fortini explained how her staff had collectively established a strong PBS4L culture at Holy Family, tying everything back to the school’s mantra of 'Live Safely, Love Respectfully, Learn Daily’.”

“The PBS4L framework that we've employed here has really allowed our teachers to have consistency in how they're dealing with and managing behaviour,” Cheryl said. “So regardless of what behaviours are exhibited, they know exactly how to deal with it and the steps that we put into place for them to feel confident and for equity to occur across the school, regardless of the child they're interacting with.”

After the opening speeches, those in attendance were split into small groups to take a tour through various classrooms and areas to see exactly how PBS4L has been implemented at Holy Family.

“It's really good to have the opportunity to come to another school and see what journey they're on, especially when you're on the journey yourself and especially after two years of lockdown,” said Larny Maloney, Special Projects Coordinator at St Bernadette's Lalor Park.

“It was really impressive to not only see so many people from this school involved, but also leadership right across the board from CEDP as well,” said Gavin Hilder, St Agnes Catholic High School Rooty Hill Assistant Principal. “PBS4L allows schools to start to create and document their culture and no matter who is there, no matter what changes occur, whether it's students, staff, and parents, that positive culture still exists.”

PBS4L really isn't just something that works for primary schools. It works in high schools, and I guarantee that it would work in all kinds of workplaces, any setting.

“Principals and school leaders play an active role in building a positive learning environment where the whole school community feels included, connected, safe and respected,” added Phillip Kapitanow, St Bernadette’s Primary Lalor Park Principal. “The wellbeing and learning outcomes of my students are enhanced when they feel connected to others and experience safe, trusting relationships.”

PBS4L

Dr Greg Elliott was keen to stress that every adult in a school community is a leader and has an important part to play in supporting students.

“Our aim is to create a caring culture,” he said. “There are small and big ways we do that every day in our schools and we have to keep echoing that in our language, in our relationships, in our structures and in our behaviours.

“We are all leaders. If you are in that first year of your teaching career, you are a leader. We can't hand over that responsibility to anyone else. It's like we create a culture bubble around us and we don't only influence the young people in our care, we influence our colleagues.”

Those in attendance shared lots of stories of how PBS4L has had a positive impact on their school communities.

“A few years ago when we first implemented our calm zone, we received an email from a parent talking to us about how their child had taken that back home and created his own calm zone,” explained Rebecca French. “If he got upset or was feeling a little bit sad or confused or frustrated, he would take himself there and he asked his mother to supply him with some of the different things for mindfulness such as colouring in gear, fidget toys and things similar to what we use in our calm spaces at school. He is able to transfer what he experiences here at school into his home life to help him regulate his emotions. It’s a beautiful story.”

“I’ve been at St Bernadette's for four years now and the changes in that time have been amazing,” said Larny Maloney. “In the past we might have found it hard to get the whole school’s attention at once but since implementing our ‘look, listen, learn’ procedure, I kid you not, now we can stop every child in the school in one go. And it's just amazing to see, especially in the playground, the amount of noise and all of a sudden dead silence and every child can hear the instruction. It's been fantastic.”

“Our pillars are built around the ideas of compassion, integrity, dignity, and inclusiveness,” said Gavin Hilder. “It goes home with every student in their diaries. They get a form that says these are our values, this is what we truly believe in. And what we're finding is that some of the families are saying, yeah, these are our family values as well. And we can really buy into that and we agree and this is where I want my child because what the school stands for is what we stand for at home as well.”

View and download photos

Written By

Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au

Facebook

29 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Once again, we're inviting you to design our next Catholic Outlook Magazine front cover! Last year's competition was won by Samantha, with her beautiful entry "The birth of our Saviour", with several others who were highly commended. All ages are welcome. Let your artwork reflect the true meaning of Christmas during this Special Year of Saint Francis. Submit your entry by Friday 6 November 2026 via parracatholic.org/artcomp Let's make this Advent and Christmas season a canvas of faith and joy together!

27 Sep 2026
From Facebook
2027 CSPD Primary Sport TEAM Registration Form (Expression of Interest) - Sport Trials (Basketball, Cricket & Tennis) - Session 1 (November 2026) AFL (Boys & Girls -trials in early 2027) Expression of Interest (EOI) Nominations are now open for students wishing to trial for the 2027 Parramatta Diocesan Primary Sport Teams. Parents and guardians are invited to complete this Expression of Interest (EOI) form for their child to be considered for selection trials. Please note: Submitting an EOI does not guarantee attendance at a trial. All nominations are subject to school approval. 1. Sports Currently Open for Nominations The following sports are accepting nominations for the 2027 Parramatta Diocesan Teams. Cricket – Boys & Girls (closing date 26 October 2026) Basketball – Boys & Girls (closing date 5 November 2026) Tennis – Boys & Girls (closing date 5 November 2026) AFL – Boys & Girls (closing date 28th January 2027) Cricket, Basketball and Tennis trials will be held in November 2026. AFL trials will take place in early February 2027. 2. Upcoming Nominations – Term 1 and Term 2 Trials Nominations for the following sports will open on 23 November 2026 and close on Friday, 5 February 2027. Trials will be held during Term 1 and Term 2 of 2027. Hockey Football Netball Rugby League Rugby Union Softball Touch Football 3. Student Eligibility and Selection Criteria Students nominated for diocesan trials must demonstrate an above-average to high level of skill in their chosen sport. Students should have experience playing in regular competitions outside of school. For some sports, representative playing experience may also be required. Year Level Eligibility Students must generally be in Year 5 or Year 6 in 2027 to be eligible for nomination. Students entering Year 4 in 2027 who demonstrate exceptional skill and ability may also be nominated. This is open age and will compete against Year 5 & 6 students for the following sports: Hockey Softball Tennis Touch Football All nominations must meet the eligibility and selection criteria for the relevant sport. 4. School Approval and Trial Selection All Expressions of Interest are subject to approval by the student's school principal and sports coordinator. Each sport has specific eligibility and selection criteria that schools must follow when considering nominations. Submitting an EOI does not automatically qualify a student to attend a diocesan trial. Schools have final discretion over which students are approved to attend. Students selected by their school will receive the relevant Parramatta Diocesan Team trial information directly from their school. 5. How to Submit an Expression of Interest Parents and guardians may complete this form on behalf of their child. A separate EOI form must be submitted for each child and each sport. Once all required information has been completed, click SUBMIT to register your child's Expression of Interest. https://forms.gle/22MBb12d7cZgeTzo8 6. Additional Team Sports (MacKillop level only) – CSNSW Sport Portal Nominations for the following sports will open in early 2027 and must be completed through the CSNSW Sport Portal: Diving Golf Netball – Boys Rugby 7s – Girls These sports are not included in this EOI form. 7. Further Information For further information about eligibility, nomination requirements or selection trials, please contact your school's sports coordinator. Important reminder: This registration is an Expression of Interest only. Participation in Parramatta Diocesan Team trials is subject to school approval.