Author: adminprow

In the undergraduate courses of “Professional Ethics and Ethical Behavior” and “Social Pedagogy and Interculturalism” within the curriculum of the Department of Education and Care in Early Childhood of IHU, the basic principles of the European program “ProW” were presented to the students. In this context, the students became familiar with the 8 elements of the System for Enhancing Positive Behavior Support in Early Childhood Education (SW-PBS), which aims to prevent and address children’s challenging behaviors in preschool education.

In addition, the students were informed about the five pillars of the PERMA model (Positive Psychology), which represents a contemporary approach to positive psychology and wellbeing. Specifically, the students studied the five pillars of positive psychology, which consist of Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment. The PERMA model promotes a positive attitude towards life.

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CARDET in collaboration with the Institute of Development, organised an online webinar for parents. The informative presentation aimed to inform and guide parents on how they can implement the Positive Behaviour Support system in simple steps at home, promoting positive behavior’s and improving their relationships with their children.

During the webinar, the presenters, Dr. Militsa Nikiforou and Andri Agathokleous, presented basic guidelines and simple steps that every parent can implement at home. Their presentations were based on their expertise and experiences from the implementation of the School-Wide Positive Behavior Support System (SWPBS) in 50 primary schools and kindergartens in Cyprus over the last five years.

Parental support, as in all areas of children’s lives, is key to the success of the children and their active involvement.

The webinar was successfully conducted on the 31/01/2023 at 18:00 with more than 200 parents.  

You can watch the presentation in the project eLearning platform ( The presentation is available in Greek):

1. Register to the platform: www.elearning.prowproject.eu

2. Click on Cyprus

3. Click on “Εκπαιδεύσεις”

4. Click on “Η εφαρμογή του Συστήματος Θετικής Συμπεριφοράς στο σπίτι – Ενημερωτική παρουσίαση για γονείς”

An event dedicated to the creative power of young people with the aim of highlighting the youth as the most alive and hopeful part of the country.

The 6th Up to You(th) Festival was held on Saturday, 24th of September 2022 in the wonderful park in Acropoli area, Nicosia, Cyprus. 

The Cyprus partners shared common concerns and aspirations through open discussions and promoted the ProW project to the audience, including parents, youth, and children! 

The external coach of ProW project in Cyprus, Andri Agathokleous, talks in Plus TV about positive relationships and the importance of building supportive school environments for our children, in order to be happy and succeed at school and in life. Andri also mentioned how positive relationships contribute to the levels of happiness in our lives.

The Plus TV channel is freely transmitted nationally-wide. More than 10000 people view the channel every day. Watch the full reportage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqvs- zw0bGs

One of the main goals of the Prow project is to build inclusive positive-orientated school cultures, in which all children are valued and respected! The ProW project’s Cyprus coaches delivered a workshop to parents at a local school on Friday, 11 of November 2022.

Parents were mesmerised to see the Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) practices implemented in their children’s school and built knowledge upon an upcoming webinar about applying PBS practices in their homes!

In the gathering, the school coach presented the theoretical and research framework of the ProW project, while teachers presented their work during the previous year with students. It is noted that teachers produced efforts upon the restrictions and challenges that all schools had to overcome, due to covid–19 pandemic.

We are all proud of our schools and looking forward to another successful year of implementation!

It is commonly accepted that ensuring equal opportunities for inclusive education and a holistic development of children is a key objective of any education system. This requires, among other things, the development and adoption of values, the cultivation of positive attitudes and the opening of effective channels of communication and mutual support between teachers, pupils and parents/guardians. Andri Agathokleous, representing the pool of coaches in Cyprus explains that the ProW project is implemented in 16 pre-primary education schools by the Pedagogical Institute of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, the Institute of Development and CARDET.

The Positive Behaviour Promotion System is an evidenced-based approach that aims to prevent the occurrence of undesirable behaviours in school through the teaching of desirable behaviours, as opposed to the use of a punitive approach. More specifically, the focus on discouraging unexpected behaviours by adults in school is replaced by designing a structured framework where positive behaviours are taught, promoted and encouraged. To achieve this, the system adopts a holistic approach that includes, among other things, defining a new philosophy of discipline, and teaching expected behaviours, and reinforcing children through rewards. In this way, the school provides an ‘accepting environment’ where positive behaviours are promoted, while non-expected behaviours become learning opportunities and further practice to develop social skills.

The busyness that comes with starting the new school year can come as a shock to the system when you’re still in relaxed holiday mode.

Check out our 10 tips for surviving the shift, and for making your wellbeing a priority.

How to keep that relaxed holiday feeling

1. Reconnect to your purpose

Try to do one thing each week that reminds you why you became a teacher in the first place.

Get started: Use a teaching strategy that you and your students all enjoy to remind you of the difference you’re making in their lives.

2. Adopt a growth mindset in your teaching

There’s great value in trying new things and accepting mistakes as opportunities to learn. We could all do with a reminder of the power of ‘yet’. It can be helpful to see yourself as a learner (just like your students) and to spend time reflecting on new ideas, considering what you have learnt and acknowledging areas that you find challenging.

Get started: Check out Developing a Growth Mindset in Teachers and Staff.

3. Focus on kindness and gratitude

An act of appreciation or kindness produces positive emotions, stronger social connections and improved wellbeing. Consider simple ways you can build gratitude and kindness into your day. And the best thing? Kindness and gratitude are contagious, so imagine the benefit to your classroom!

Get started: Each night, recall three good things that have happened during the day. To make it easy to keep track, check out the Gratitude Journal app.

4. Create clear boundaries between home and school

Set a reasonable time for leaving school each day (and stick to it). Find ways to turn off your teacher mindset, so that you can relax when you get home.

Get started: Try developing an end-of-day ‘ritual’ to help you switch mindsets. It may include changing your clothes when you get home, heading out for an afternoon walk, or spending time with family and friends. In addition, try to limit the amount of school work you bring home.

5. Set up effective debriefing and mentoring structures

Teaching can be an emotionally taxing job that throws up many different challenges. Set up structures that help you to focus on solutions rather than problems. While a venting session may make you feel better in the short term, it doesn’t solve the problem and may make you feel stuck.

Get started: Consider using a debriefing structure to help manage your thinking about challenging situations. Or team up with a supportive colleague and set up a formal mentor relationship structure.

6. Establish good sleeping habits

Good-quality sleep is one of the most important aspects of maintaining your physical and psychological health. This can be a tough ask after the late nights and long sleep-ins you’ve probably indulged in during your holiday break!

Get started: Develop a regular bedtime routine, which may include taking a warm bath, reading quietly for a while or having a warm milk drink. Consider using a sleep app.

7. Build up your emotional resilience

Think of proactive ways to manage the stress in your life. Meet regularly with friends and family, spend time on hobbies you enjoy, read or watch things that make you laugh, and build into your daily routine proven stress-busting activities such as yoga, meditation or exercises that involve deep breathing.

Get started: There are lots of great (and free) apps to help you manage stress. These include the ReachOut Worrytime , ReachOut Breathe and Smiling Mind.

8. Keep focused on your goals

Setting goals is a great way to give you direction, focus and motivation. Try to ensure that all your goals are achievable, measurable and have an end point. It can be helpful to break a larger goal into more manageable sub-goals.

Get started: Think of something that, if you do it today, will make you feel satisfied and accomplished. Then do it!

9. Reward yourself

The improved physical and psychological health that comes from prioritising your wellbeing is a reward in itself, but there’s also value in using tangible rewards when you meet particular goals.

Get started: Consider simple and practical ways to reward yourself whenever you reach a goal or sub-goal: take a walk in nature, soak in a warm bath, cook your favourite dinner or indulge in a massage.

10. Build new connections and relationships

Building new relationships and connections is key to our wellbeing. Take the time to get to know the students, parents and staff members in your school community.

Get started: Consider ways to develop student-focused relationships. See Wellbeing Fives for some practical ways to do this^[1].

Follow us online to keep up to date with the evolution of the activities of the Romanian research team: https://prowproject.eu/el/news/

Follow us on our social media to stay updated:

• https://www.instagram.com/prow_project/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/prow-project-832975217/recent-activity/shares/
• https://www.facebook.com/prowproject

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^[1] Professor Kinman, Gail. “Teacher wellbeing: how to mentally prepare for a new school year”. The Guardian. 20th August 2014

Α series of five initial trainings regarding the ProW implementation were conducted in Greece from the ^st of November till the 30^th of November 2022. Preschool teachers from Group B received training support on PERMA model and SWPBS framework. In total, 67 early childhood educators from 18 different ECEC settings in Northern Greece from Municipality of Kalamaria and Directorate of Primary Education of Western Thessaloniki participated in these trainings.

Big thanks to coaches/trainers Dr. Iraklis Grigoropoulos and Dr. Dafni Petkou and the participating preschool teams!

The ProW implementation in Greece has already started and ECEC settings will be continuously supported from the ProW – Greek team.

Through the ProW project, Municipality of Lousada offered two books to each of the participating preschool. These books aim to work as useful resources for teachers to promote their children’s social and emotional development, to manage children’s challenging behaviors, and to teach positive behaviors.

These two books can be interesting and useful both for teachers and families:

“The Lion Inside”, by Rachel Bright and Jim Field, is a story about confidence, self-esteem, and a shy little mouse who sets out on a journey to find his roar!

“Thank You, the Story of a Neighborhood”, by Rocio Bonilla, is a story about how friendship, diversity, understanding, solidarity, curiosity, and empathy lead a community to prosper!

We hope teachers have great story times with their children!