Student Support Services

Smoking and Vaping: Advice for Parents

Josie Mitchell

Secondary School Nurse

DRUMBEAT 

By Josie Mitchell, Secondary School Nurse

Since the start of Term 3 I have been running a program called Drumbeat with a small group of Year 7, 8 and 9 students once a week. Djibril and Deng from the Youth Engagement Team have also participated and We alternate the sessions attended so students do not miss the same subject, and so far, it has worked well with great attendance and enthusiasm. 

Our initial training was done through Holyoake, and the program is backed up with great research and positive results. 

The name DRUMBEAT is an acronym for Discovering Relationships Using Music, Beliefs, Emotions, Attitudes, and Thoughts. It is a program designed to use beautiful African Djembe drums to teach about relationships and teamwork and have some fun while making creative noise! Drumming is done using three main beats, the Bass, the Tone and the Slap and learning and creating different rhythms and songs. 

We have been discussing concepts like harmony, respect, community, individuality, and teamwork. Towards the end of the term, we will put together a small performance and the students will be able to invite others of their choice to come and watch. 

It has been fun watching the students develop their rhythm and enjoying the drums!  This will be an ongoing program at school and we look forward to telling you more as the program comes to a close at the end of term 3. 

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