Inside this Issue - Redeemer Lutheran College

Junior School NewsSome people think education is allabout what grades are achieved,how many co-curricular activities areoffered or a child may be involved inor what OP score a child will receivein the future.Education is about these factors,but at the heart of education arerelationships. Supportive, honestrelationships help students achievein a more positive way.In the Junior School we work hard to develop relationshipsamongst different year and age groups.One of the ways we develop positive relationships is by our Prepsand Year 5 students have a buddy program. They meet togetherfortnightly for activities. The buddy program serves to give ourPrep students a mentor, someone they can look to as a positiverole model in their lives.Younger children especially enjoy the one-to-one attention theyreceive from their older buddy. They make comments such as,“He makes me feel special”, “she says nice things to me!” and“We do lots of fun things together. She`s my friend.”We find that the Prep and Year 5 buddy program enhanceschildren`s cooperative learning behaviours such as taking turns,listening, sharing knowledge, praising another`s effort, helping oneanother, and completing a task. The younger children bond withthe older buddy and friendships flourish as the year progresses.In some cases, the students sit with their buddy during lunchor have time together on the playground. Some of our Prepstudents make posters and cheer for their older buddies who areon sports teams.This is just one of the ways we strive to build relationshipsamongst different years levels within the school and is provingvery successful.Mrs Kelli McKeiverHead of Junior School12