This year, our School and House Captains proudly launched a new initiative called School Spirit.

Supported by Mr Mitton, Mrs Ramsay and Mrs Noell the purpose of School Spirit is to recognise and celebrate the everyday actions of students who make a positive difference to SPW and our wider community. These are real life actions that showcase our school values of being respectful, showing courage and wonder, and serving people and places.

Noticing What Matters

Throughout the semester, staff and student leaders were encouraged to:

• Notice positive actions
• Name what they saw
• Award points for these actions

Points are allocated using our school Houses — Flinders, Sturt, Eyre and Light. At the end of the term the points are calculated and the winning House is congratulated and rewarded with an end of term treat. In Term 1 Sturt won the honour and were awarded with icy poles celebrating together as a House team, in Term 2 Flinders took home the honour and enjoyed their treat and run around on the oval.

At the start of a new term, the score board resets to zero and each House works together again to see if they can win the title.

This initiative has been a wonderful way to introduce our younger students to the House system, while also helping our older students see that Houses are about much more than sport, it also encapsulates kindness, leadership and making a positive impact.

Examples of points awarded:

• Jack (Year 3) took time out of his lunch to play basketball with a friend who was upset. He chose to step away from his usual group to support his friend.
• Callum (Year 5) was awarded points on camp for demonstrating flexibility and resilience, as well as being highly engaged in all group activities.
• Ruby (Year 6) showed how she lifts up others and improves our community by volunteering to lead at the ELC Open Day. She warmly greeted families as they arrived, asked young children their names, introduced herself, and shared something she loves about SPW.

Article by Sarah Noell, Acting Principal.