Free WebinarStudent Voice, Wellbeing Data and Readiness to Learn utilising Life Skills GO - A deep dive with Bangalow Public School

We're excited to share with you the fourth in a series of 'Deep Dives' into real schools across Australia, who are regularly using wellbeing data to evidence improvement in their whole school wellbeing programs and provide differentiated support to all students.

Led by Carol Antoun, Principal, this webinar delved into the practical implementation of a comprehensive data-led whole school wellbeing framework at Bangalow Public School.

The webinar shed light on how traditional methods of measuring wellbeing, such as attendance and behavior tracking, may fall short in truly understanding and addressing students' real wellbeing needs. Carol Antoun discussed how traditional methods for measuring wellbeing can be enhanced through empowering student voice in a meaningful way. She emphasised the importance of adopting more effective approaches and how she has embedded emotion check-ins as part of everyday practice in Bangalow Public School. She stated, "So my passion for wellbeing comes from making sure that we look at the holistic approach to the child. Any teacher will tell you that if a child's not ready to learn, not happy, things going on, it's going to be really hard, really difficult to educate them. So, taking the time to embed wellbeing as part of your daily routine and whole school practice is important."

Every student is known, valued and cared for: Carol Antoun imparted insights into Bangalow Public's dedication to ensuring every student is known, cared for, and valued. She stressed the challenge of upholding this motto and highlighted how Life Skills Go has proven indispensable in realising it. Through facilitating regular student check-ins, the platform empowers teachers to connect with every child, nurturing a culture where student voice is esteemed, as emphasised by Rydr Tracy. This sense of belonging is pivotal for student well-being and academic achievement. Furthermore, the discussion delved into the value of having wellbeing data that is collected with high frequency, daily, as opposed to collecting data annually. 

All students have wellbeing needs: Rydr Tracy underscored the importance of supporting all students, not just those that exhibit negative behaviour. He unpacked data from the UNICEF Changing childhood project where findings indicated 1/3 (36%) of young people experience nervousness, anxiety or depression and that in our schools some of these students present as compliant students ready to learn which can mask their emotional and wellbeing needs. Carol Antoun explained what this looks like in her context and discussed how by harnessing real-time data provided by Life Skills Go, educators at Bangalow Public can discern and address the needs of these students, ensuring that no one falls through the cracks. This inclusive approach fosters a sense of belonging among all students, irrespective of their individual challenges or circumstances.

Anxiety and Emotional Literacy: Carol Antoun delved into the escalating levels of anxiety among students and the school's endeavours to build the language and understanding of emotions. Life Skills Go provides the opportunity every day for students to build their emotional literacy, whilst the platform offers data, reporting, resources, and tools to tackle these challenges, equipping educators with strategies for emotional regulation and fostering a supportive learning environment.

Building Trust and Relationships: Both Carol Antoun and Rydr Tracy stressed the significance of cultivating robust bonds between teachers, students and parents. Through regular check-ins facilitated by Life Skills Go, teachers can forge trusting relationships with students, providing a safe space for expression and emotional regulation. This sense of trust and connection heightens students' sense of belonging within the school community. Due to this data coming directly from the student it allows conversations with parents to begin on a footing of partnership. Rydr Tracy articulated that parent teacher conversations that elevate student voice in the conversation help strengthen partnerships and generate a consistent approach at home and school. 

Teaching Emotional Regulation and a shared understanding: The webinar elucidated how Life Skills Go supports educators in bolstering emotional literacy and teaching self-regulation, thereby assisting educators in building trust with students. By providing tools for teaching emotional regulation, the platform contributes to a supportive learning environment where students feel understood and valued. Carol Antoun underscored the importance of teaching emotional literacy and furnishing students with the vocabulary to articulate their feelings effectively.