Yerrabi Pathways

Program overview

Yerrabi Pathways is a whole school program designed for the specific needs of the Narrabundah School community.

It has been developed to assist with social skills teaching and is aimed at providing students with a social skill foundation for life. With improved social skills it is envisaged that learning outcomes in literacy and numeracy will also improve due to greater cohesion and on-task behaviour.

Social skills are vital for healthy growth and development. The purpose of this program is to facilitate the establishing of skills in students so that they develop the confidence to make choices and possess the awareness to recognise the consequences of the choices.

Logistics of Yerrabi Pathways

The program is not supplementary to the curriculum but complementary. It will enhance the literacy development of students as it has a strong emphasis on both oral and written communication.

Weekly sequence

Monday: Concept of the week. Presented to the whole school at a Yerrabi assembly in the library at 10.30 am. Teachers to take turns presenting the poster each week. Role play to be presented to the children depicting the concept of the week.

Follow-up recommendations

In-class follow-up should take place as soon as possible after the Yerrabi assembly. It is recommended that the follow-up session could commence after recess on the Monday when the concept is still fresh. The rest of the week should be geared towards reinforcing the concept and may include further follow-up lessons relating to the concept.

School community communication

• The week prior to the concept an overview will be placed in the school newsletter.
  
  The 'concept of the week' may be included in the homework sheet.
  
  
• A banner/poster will be displayed in the foyer presenting the 'concept of the week'. Each class will have the responsibility of preparing a poster.

Maintenance

• Each staff meeting there should be a discussion time and an opportunity to share ideas.
  
  
• Weekly rewards. During the staff meeting, students who have showed understanding of the concept will be identified and a presentation from the 'Treasure Chest' will be made at the next Yerrabi assembly.