Harrison Jones (foundation year), Meg Devlin (grade four), Kirsty Wooster (grade six) and Emma Brown (foundation year) are learning that caring for others and supporting each other is part of everyday school life. Photo: Lauren Murphy
The West Gippsland Trader, April 9, 2015
Nilma Primary School launched its Better Buddies program with a purple themed day on Friday, March 20.
Activities included designing buddy handshakes, buddy obstacle course, potatoes race, egg and spoon race and pin the nose on the better buddy.
An initiative of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, the Better Buddies framework is designed to create friendly and caring primary school communities where bullying is reduced.
In Better Buddies, children in their first and last year of primary school buddy up and learn values including caring for others, friendliness, respect, valuing difference, including others and responsibility through formal weekly activities and informal interaction outside of the classroom.
Better Buddies enables younger children to feel safe and cared for, while older children feel valued and respected.
The Better Buddies program will enhance the existing buddy program at Nilma Primary School.
During term one, the whole school peer support program has been effective in building student relationships and sense of belonging in the school.
