Positive Discipline and the Grades of 4 and 5 Belonging Team

People do better when they feel better, and the most powerful motivation for change is encouragement. These are two of the founding principles of Positive Discipline. Positive Discipline is a program developed by Dr. Jane Neslen based on the work of Alfred Adler and Rudolf Driekurs. Adler believed that human behavior is motivated by a desire for belonging, significance, connection, and worth. Within the Positive Discipline program, whether that be through parenting in the home or the Positive Discipline in the Classroom model at school, we are teaching young people to become responsible, respectful, and resourceful members of their communities by giving them opportunities to develop necessary skills and help them to see how capable they are, all while filling those buckets of belonging, significance, connection, and worth. 

Having provided training for many teachers across all divisions at St. Patrick’s over the last two years, we are now expanding our scope to cover the student experience. Focusing on connection and building community are high priorities in Grades 4 and 5. To that end – and the great excitement of our students – we are creating a “Belonging Team.” The Belonging Team will allow interested students to work with our Grades 4-8 School Counselor, Julianne Reilly, to foster a more profound sense of belonging in the Lower School.  Grade 5 student Talia K. says, “I think this group is a good idea because maybe some people feel left out, and this is a good way to include them.” Bringing the Belonging Team to life will also provide our oldest Lower Schoolers a leadership opportunity and encourage younger students to view them as role models. Among other events, the Belonging Team is working with Associate Head of Lower School Rachel Levin on the next Lower School Community Gathering to enhance the connection between grade levels in the Lower School. Stay tuned for more updates as this group solidifies!