“If it for us, and you do not ask us, then it is against us”.

“Teach and provide them with opportunities to play and they won’t play up. Teach them to act with authenticity and they won’t act out. Supply the resources and give them hope.”

When Denise became involved with Student Centred Learning, she found that early childhood did not have a monopoly on focusing on and engaging with students as the basis for learning. She was encouraged in her belief that the best of early childhood practice can support, influence and promote learning across all the years of schooling.

SAS has been loath to have a ‘program that we do’. There are a number of programs that they acknowledge support the development of  collaborative learning strategies, develop thinking skills, help students to manage their own behaviour (e.g. Alternatives to Violence Program, Tribes) and help restore relationships after conflicts (e.g. Restorative Justice) with which their beliefs and philosophy resonate. SAS has incorporated many different ways of working with students into their daily practice including daily affirmations, meditation and other processes of reflection and in weekly routines such as student run class and whole school meetings and Harmony Groups where year 7 leaders facilitate mixed age group community building activities and are supported in their role by an adult elder/consultant.