Positive Attitudes and Life Skills (PALS) and Second Step

The development of social skills and a positive mindset are essential for all young people. To support this process each year we run the PALS program which forms part of our Pastoral Care Policy (incorporating Anti-Bullying) together with our use of the Second Step program across all year levels. There is a large amount of research available to support this program which can be found at http://www.cfchildren.org/second-step/research.

Over the years the teachers at Lindfield have collaboratively developed the PALS program and last year adopted the Second Step program to develop social and emotional learning as part of the PALS program and to bring together current research on the importance of well-being, social skill development and resilience, and our observations of the needs of our boys.

Our Second Step scope and sequence (found on the Lindfield:Learning SPACES Page) is followed sequentially throughout the year at all year levels with deviations/modifications as required by the cohort and circumstance. Further information on our approach to Positive Attitudes and Life Skills will be shared throughout the year and the attached scope and sequence will serve to assist you in communicating with your son about his school based learning experiences related to social skills.

The PALS program also provides a leadership opportunity for our Year 6 boys as they are given the chance to lead teaching sessions with each of the other classes. In addition to these lessons, there is at least one other weekly session (often in the form of ‘Circle Time‘) to allow teachers to consolidate the skill or attitude that has been introduced/revisited.

The Second Step program provides opportunities for parents and families to access resources for use at home to support the learning that is occurring at school. These resources can be accessed using the following by joining at www.secondstep.org with the respective activation keys below. Once logged in you will be able to watch videos about the Second Step program and get information about what your student is learning.

If you would like further information on either program please do not hesitate to contact your son’s teacher, Mr Benjamin Barrington-Higgs or myself via the school office.

Mr Pascal Czerwenka