Teachers and students share how the Peer Support Program fosters positive thinking from a young age, helping students develop resilience and optimism. Peer Leader Bridie shares her advice and tips for children starting primary school, and teacher Carmel talks about how new relationships formed during the program are carried over to the playground.
Kristen Wilson, Assistant Principal: I’m Kristen Wilson and I’m the Assistant Principal at Robertson Public School. Yes, so this term we’re running the unit Living Positively, which is looking at being optimistic and having a positive outlook on life.
And you see out in the playground, children trying to be positive and being kind to each other. And I know in my classroom, when I talk to them about (it), when we come back afterwards and debrief, they’re trying to act that out and practice that in the playground and being quite optimistic about how things are going in the classroom, how things are going in the playground, and really having that ‘never give up’ attitude. And (where to) come for support also, when they are having difficulties.
Wolfie, Peer Leader: We’re learning about how to be more positive. Like instead of saying “I’m useless”, instead you can just say “I just need to try harder”. I think it helps kids understand their emotions and feelings in such a way that they can deal with them better and learn to live more positively. It helps me cope with stuff — just helps me cope a lot more than if I didn’t know how to do that stuff.
Carmel Coles, Year 6 Teacher: Yeah, so we’re doing the Living Positively module and most definitely, they’re transferring the skills that they’re learning through that. I think it’s more of the learning the qualities of strengths and things like that, and we’re bringing that into the classroom as well. So talking about the kindness, teamwork.
There was a story of one child from, I think might have been Kindergarten or Year 1, who saw their leader and that was very exciting for them. Even in the playground we’re having them – they’re going up and talking to the younger students and things like that – making sure they’re okay. Taking on that Peer Leader role outside as well, which is great.
Bridie, Peer Leader: My name is Bridie and I’m in Year 6 and I’m a Peer Leader at Robertson Public School. The one piece of advice that I would give to little kids that are coming to big school is to not be so down on yourself and be confident of what you say. It doesn’t matter how you speak, what you look like. It’s just if you’re kind. And it’s just, that’s the one piece of advice that I would give to you, like younger kids coming to school and stuff. They’re going to like you for you, and just don’t try to be other people.
