From the 

Head of Junior School

UR Strong, Wellbeing and Resilience

In 2022, Kinross Wolaroi Junior School is committed to creating a safe and caring environment for your child. We want to ensure our students are set up for success and that our school culture is one that is rooted in respect and kindness.

For this reason, we made the decision in 2022 to implement an internationally recognised program with our students, Friendology 101 by URSTRONG. This wellbeing program empowers children with the skills, language, and self-confidence to be better friends and develop healthier friendships.  This skills-based program teaches students how to put a voice to their feelings, create healthy friendships, make healthy choices within their friendships, stand up for themselves and build a solid foundation for future relationships. Along with learning what’s normal in a friendship and the difference between healthy and unhealthy friendships, students learn strategies for putting out common Friendship Fires™ (URSTRONG’s term for conflict-resolution) and how to combat mean-on-purpose behaviour.

At the commencement of Term 2 staff undertook training with Dana Kerford, the founder of URSTRONG and have continued in their professional learning with after school and online workshops. This staff learning has seen classes engage in a series of lessons and ongoing conversations where students have been developing the language to better express their feelings, stand up for themselves, and put out Friendship Fires®.

A key element of the program is Friendology 101 where students learn the difference between normal conflict and bullying. We strongly believe this program’s focus on teaching the skills to develop healthy relationships, starting at a young age, is a strategic and proactive approach and, ultimately, a key tool in attaining our goal of a school culture rooted in respect and kindness. Friendology 101 helps students and teachers establish a common language so they can co-identify social issues and learn to better communicate solutions. Based on our research of this program we believe this program will assist us in positively improving the culture of our school.

What’s unique about URSTRONG is that everything is done through the lens of friendship skills. This is because wellbeing science proves relationships are at the heart of wellbeing. Research shows healthy friendships in childhood and adolescence promote positive mental health improving resilience, self-concept, a sense of purpose, academic performance, and attitudes towards learning (Vitaro F., Boivin M., & Bukowski W.M., 2009). We also know that when children experience unhealthy friendships, conflict in friendships, or social isolation, they often display symptoms of anxiety, depression, and have difficulty learning. In addition, children who are struggling socially are more likely to disengage and avoid school. Ultimately, when we get friendships right in schools, students flourish.

As social-emotional wellbeing and character education from Pre-K to Year 6 is an integral part of our school’s philosophy, this friendship program aligns perfectly with our values. Research clearly demonstrates children who have healthy friendships are involved in more leadership roles, have higher self-esteem, a more positive body image, perform better academically, and make smarter decisions in future relationships.

As the program unfolds, we hope you will keep the conversation going at home. 

To support these conversations families (not students) are invited to take advantage of a FREE Parent Membership to access hundreds of resources – including an 8 session video series. This will allow you to learn the same language & strategies being taught in the classroom through the Friendology 101 curriculum. We hope that, as a URSTRONG Family, you will reinforce the important messages of empowerment, self-compassion, & kindness at home. 

As a next step: 

Click here to view an overview of URSTRONG. 

Activate your FREE Parent Membership and explore all the resources available to your family. 

Register to attend our Parent and Carers information session facilitated by; Denise Hayward (Head of Junior School), Virginia Milliken (Director of Junior School - Wellbeing), Amy Newsome (School Psychologist) and Bec Campey (School Psychologist) 

Date: Thursday 16th June 2022 

Location: The Glasshouse in the Junior School

RSVP: Thursday 9th June 2022  

RSVP Form or QR Code 

We are excited to watch our students strengthen their social skills by becoming more resilient, empowered, and empathetic friends. For more information about the program, please visit www.urstrong.com.

Social and emotional skills such as perseverance, emotional stability and sociability allow people to better translate intentions into actions; establish positive relationships with family, friends and the community; and avoid engaging with unhealthy lifestyles and risky behaviours. Social and emotional skills are as important as cognitive skills in shaping outcomes (Heckman, Stixru & Urzua 2006).

Andreas Schleicher, CEO of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) stated that: “Tomorrow’s schools will create first class humans, not robots.” What remains constant is the humanity of teaching to inspire. We must never lose sight of our humanity as our true north.

Thank you for your continued support at home. As you know, my door is always open and please be in touch if you have any questions.

Kinross Wolaroi Students making their Mark 

At Kinross Wolaroi we value and strive for academic rigor. Students have a myriad of opportunities to engage in enriching learning experiences which in some instances the School provides or facilitates student access to them.  Please share with us your child’s interest, passions, and achievements by emailing junioroffice@kws.nsw.edu.au.

Writing in Year 5

Year 5 students have been engaging in writing experiences. The work students and staff have been focusing on through our Love of Writing project is clearly making an impact on the writing students are creating.

Landscape Description

By Cassandra Philippe 

The water trickled down the landscape. The trickling waters sound pierced through the quietness of the surrounding jungle, as it danced to its own tune. At the end of the waters journey the overgrown surrounding jungle opened up to reveal a stunning lagoon. All was calm. All was quiet.

My heart warmed, as I bent down and felt the trickling stream. The water felt welcoming and happy. It was as though the water was playing, twisting, and turning. It ducked through my fingers. I smiled. I felt the bark of the ancient trees. They spoke to me, their wise words echoing in my ears. 

Winter 

by George Kilby

I watch the snow, 

I see it fall, 

Piling up, 

It makes a wall.

I hear the sound, 

Of this great terrain, 

Its almost like a planet, 

Of frozen rain.

Breathing in, 

I smell the pine, 

The snow falls, 

In a line.

Holding out my hand, 

I touch the snow,

Deeply feeling, 

Its icy glow.

I taste the cold,

And the bitter breeze, 

The icy texture, 

Of frozen trees.