Connection comes first - Restorative Practice at MHS
Morisset High School is the first school in Western Lake Macquarie to introduce Restorative Practices as the framework that underpins all teaching, learning, and behaviour and relationship management at our school.
This whole-school focus is centred around stronger relationships, not only in the ways our teachers and staff connect with our students, and the way students connect with each other, but also in how our school connects with families, and the community.
Using Restorative Practices in the classroom, in the yard, and to help manage when things don’t go to plan, is a powerful way to build positive relationships, to resolve conflict, improve student behaviours, reduce negative relationships, encourage personal responsibility, and empower students to make things right when things go wrong.
How does Restorative Practice work?
Working restoratively is based on asking students the right questions when things go wrong.
To help resolve conflict or disagreement at school, traditionally teachers put their detective hats on and focus on finding out what happened, or what happened in the past.
Restorative Practice gives teachers, staff, students and families the tools to unpack conflict or disagreement, focusing on the present impact and how this conflict can be resolved and most impactful in the future. These are important interpersonal skills that students will take with them into their adult lives.
Put simply, in a situation of conflict or disagreement between students, our staff will ask your children questions like:
- What happened?
- How has that made people feel?
- What actions will you take to restore the relationship and make things better?
Our ongoing partnership with Real Schools provides our school community with resources, access to expertise, and support to make the best use of Restorative Practice tools to benefit all learners.
