Australia’s First Glasser Quality School
Walking through the gates of Sunshine Beach State School, new and existing parents and learners often comment on the positive, fun and supportive learning environment.
As an accredited Glasser Quality School since 2003, the school uses the principles of Dr William Glasser’s Choice Theory, Reality Therapy and Lead Management as its philosophical base.
The needs satisfying learning environment is due to this unifying and deliberate approach which underpins the learning interactions and operations of the school. Positive relationships are built on trust and respect and the staff, learners, families and the community work together to strive for the ever moving target of quality in all that we do.
What this means for the kids is that we get to learn and understand about ourselves. We learn that we all have 5 basic needs which drive our behaviours.
fun and enjoyment
love and belonging
survival
freedom
personal power
We talk about being self-managed and taking responsibility for the choices that we make in order to have positive relationships. We know that having successful relationships with others (that is our parents, teachers and peers) is an important part of us achieving our goals at school and in life. All Sunshiners learn the connecting habits of caring, listening, supporting, contributing, encouraging, trusting and befriending. In the words of William Glasser this is what makes our school a “Good Place to be’’.
In November 2022 our school undertook the Glasser reaccreditation which occurs every four years. Three assessors spent time talking to our learners, staff and community members as well as spending time in many of our classrooms. After assessing these and looking at many of our school documents they were able to make an overall assessment of whether our school is fully enacting the Glasser philosophy.
We have been successfully declared as a Glasser Quality School for the next four years. The team of assessors were extremely impressed with the quality learning and teaching that happens at our school and the caring and nurturing environment that is provided for our learners each day.