The ReLATE circle became a valuable routine for Jane Michael, Learning and Teaching Leader at the school. During remote learning and it was telling that in nine weeks, not one student missed a day.
ReLATE is a cultural change framework for schools, developed by MacKillop based on our experience promoting wellbeing in our own schools. The ReLATE Circle is a tool to help create a safe space for students to convey how they are feeling. It is an important part of one of four foundational concepts of ReLATE – creating safe and supportive learning environments.
It allows me to check-in at the start of the day and see how the students are feeling,” explains Jane. “If a student is having a bad day, I can connect with them individually and we can determine strategies to support them.”
The positive impact is
echoed by one of the students: “ReLATE Circles during COVID have helped to
explain difficult times with emotions and have helped me and everyone to remain
calm.”
Jane says
the ReLATE framework has also helped her with strategies to create a
counter-stress remote learning environment for students. “Enacting these
strategies during remote learning has created more independent learning from
students which is wonderful to see. It has helped us to be more flexible and
adaptable in how we support students to learn established approaches that will
ensure we have a more positive culture when school goes back to normal.”