Peer Support Program at Joey's!
This week we held the final sessions of Peer Support. I hope that Year 7 has a renewed sense of resilience from this experience and knowing that the bonds they formed with their Leaders will continue as they move along their educational path at Joey’s.
Session Six - Fix It
Many skills and processes that our young people need to become independent have to be explicitly taught to them. Understanding and showing empathy to others assists students in choosing the right strategy in dealing with a broad range of behaviours.
Behaviour that is harmful, intentional, and repeated (bullying) is explored and students discussed the best strategy in this case is to tell someone. Everyone has the right to feel safe from harm.
During this session, students identified and applied their strengths to resolve various hypothetical conflict situations. These activities assist in building a young person’s feelings of competence which is a very important aspect to adolescent development and results in feelings of achievement.
This session also provided activities that explore ways to apologise if you know you have hurt another person either intentionally or unintentionally and identifies practical strategies to repair a relationship.
Session Seven - Knowing When
In previous sessions, students have discussed the varied responses to harmful behaviours, acknowledging the wonderful differences and diversity in the school. During this session, students explored the emotions felt in a variety of situations and developed appropriate responses when feeling angry or hurt ensuring that responses are not, in turn, unkind or hurtful.
It is important for students to realise that their own wellbeing has an impact on the way they feel and act. If students are tired, grumpy or stressed it can prevent them from seeing a situation clearly and their ability to respond appropriately may be impaired and could escalate conflict.
Students identified and practised strategies in order to speak up if they are not being treated well by a friend. It is important to acknowledge that this is sometimes very hard to do but when we can comfortably assert ourselves, we find our relationships can be strong and healthy.
It is important that our young people know that they have options when they are on the receiving end of unkind behaviour. Developing strategies to cope and navigate the complex world of adolescent relationships is critical especially when there are many relationship challenges right through the adolescent’s life.
Session Eight - Make a Difference
The focus of this final session was to review skills, concepts and strategies covered throughout the Peer Support sessions this Term, stepping up and reporting bullying behaviours were clarified via interactive activities. As with all the sessions, attention was given to the student’s individual and collective responsibility in creating a safe, supportive and inclusive environment. Discussions were held about the student’s responsibility to stop and think about the harm they might be causing to another and in turn if they are the target of harmful behaviour to explore the intent behind the action and to consider appropriate responses.
Please encourage your child to continue to share ideas and strategies that work in forming and maintaining great friendships, some of these will include discussion on positive social values like honesty, compassion, kindness, acceptance of difference, friendliness and respect. You could also share with your child what attributes you value most in friends.
It is also important to establish open communication with your child, talk about how they feel in various situations. Always let them know that they have options and that they can discuss difficult relationship situations with you.
Brooke Tomajka
Stage 5 PALS Coordinator