Members of our SRC have transformed into URSTRONG Friend-o-Leaders throughout Term 3 in our Lower Primary spaces.  They have been doing a wonderful job supporting their peers during lunch breaks this term! These students are trained peer mentors who help promote kindness, inclusion, and positive friendships across the playground.  Volunteer SRC members completed training videos with tips and ideas to help be friendship coaches in the Lower Primary play spaces.

During lunch times, our Friend-o-Leaders can be found checking in with students who may need a friend to play with, helping to solve small friendship challenges, and modelling what it looks like to be a caring and respectful friend. Their role supports our whole-school focus on building a culture of kindness and emotional intelligence through the URSTRONG friendship framework.

It has been heart-warming to see our leaders confidently putting their friendship skills into action — encouraging teamwork, empathy, and connection. Thank you to our Friend-o-Leaders for the positive difference you are making in our school community!

Last Tuesday, Friend-oLleaders participated in an online session with the founder (and friendship expert) of the URSTRONG program, Dana Kerford, who joined us all the way from Canada!  Students had an opportunity to see other friend-o-leaders from different schools who help in a similar capacity in their schools.  It was great to speak to Dana, and she was impressed with our vests and lanyards.  Here are some photos of a few of our Friend-o-Leaders at the meeting – Term 4 has so much happening at break time that not all of our helpers could make it, but I am proud of them all.

Sarah Leary, Assistant Head of Primary (P-2)