Deputy Head of Junior School

Our relationships are a sum of the short-term interactions we have with other people. These can either be life-giving, or life depleting (Dr Jane Dutton, University of Michigan).

Throughout Term 3, we have continued to support the Barbreck students to develop socially, honing their communication and conflict resolution skills so that their interactions with others can be positive, life-giving and respectful. Fostering strong relationships between students assists in building a genuine sense of belonging and wellbeing within our community.

Our Year 6 cohort kicked of the term by participating in the Positive Peer Relationships incursion facilitated by Unleashing Personal Potential. This practical program is designed to strengthen students’ personal and social capabilities, equipping them with the skills needed to build positive, meaningful, and lasting relationships. Students raved about the fun, interactive sessions, where they were able to deep dive into learning about teamwork, empathy, active listening, social connect and communicating respectfully.  They also examined the impact of bullying and kindness, learned how to respond assertively to challenges, and were encouraged to act as upstanders when witnessing injustice. Students had the chance to apply these skills to real-life situations and acted as the perfect opportunity to foster a supportive and inclusive year level culture before heading off the camp in Canberra.

Not wanting to miss out on the fun, our Year 5 students also participated in an UPP incursion, this time focusing on leadership and aspiring higher. These sessions were designed to help students understand that leadership takes many forms, and that no two leaders possess exactly the same set of skills. They also explored the idea that leading through actions rather than words is often the most powerful way to inspire and influence others. Students loved the hands-on tasks with a particular favourite being 'The Amazing Race' and getting to work with lots of different people across the year level. From this, we hope the students gain an understanding that leadership is more about what you do, than what you say. This message will continue to be embedded throughout the semester, through the Ambassador program.

Our youngest students from Prep to year 2 have also celebrated International Day of Friendship by creating a friendship garden. On each of the petals they wrote or drew ways in which they could be a good friend. This was a great opportunity to develop friendships across the year levels, and it has been wonderful to see these relationships grow and strengthen during break times.

This term our co-captains have also encouraged the Barbreck girls to demonstrate respect in their everyday interactions. They encouraged students to think about ways they can demonstrate respect to themselves and others. The concept of respect has continued to be explored through “Bullying No Way” week where classes learning how small acts of kindness can make a difference.

We are incredibly proud of the way Barbreck students have embraced opportunities to strengthen their relationships, develop leadership skills, and demonstrate kindness and respect in their everyday interactions throughout Term 2. By continuing to work together, both at school and at home, we can help our students build the skills needed to create positive, life-giving relationships and contribute to a supportive community.

Mrs Kate Banks

Deputy Head of Junior School