We are pleased to have launched our Year 6 Staff Buddy Initiative.
Rationale
A teacher/buddy program contributes to a positive and inclusive school culture, where students feel supported, motivated, and empowered to reach their full potential.
A teacher/buddy program is to enhance learning and support students in
1.Peer Support:
Having a buddy can provide students with a peer support system, where they can seek help, guidance, and advice from someone who may understand their challenges better
2. Building Relationships
A teacher/buddy program can help students build strong relationships with both their peers and teachers, creating a sense of community and belonging within the school environment.
3.Mentorship
Buddies can serve as mentors to students, offering valuable insights, encouragement, and motivation to help them succeed academically and personally.
4.Enhanced Communication
The program can improve communication between students and teachers, as well as among students themselves, fostering a collaborative and supportive learning environment.
5.Skill Development
The program can help students develop important social and emotional skills, such as empathy, communication, and teamwork, which are essential for success in school and beyond.
Teacher expectations
Teachers are given the opportunity to select their Year 6 buddy.
Year 6 teachers explain to the students the importance of the program (as above).
Year 6 teachers share the teacher with their year 6 student.
Teachers give buddies a lunch or afternoon tea in term 1.
Students give teachers a lunch or afternoon tea in term 4 at the end of the school year.
Teachers to give their buddy a graduation card.
Teachers touch base/ check in regularly with their buddy to see how they are going, e.g. how their weekend went, how their footy team is going etc t, visit them in their classroom, check in with them white you are on yard duty.
Student expectations
Your teacher buddy is someone to provide you with support. You can seek help, guidance and advice from them. Your buddy is there to help you build strong relationships with your peers and teachers which will enhance our school community, where everybody belongs and is accepted.
If you need help from your teacher buddy, you will need to make a time that suits you both.