Respect Workshops

In an empowering and enlightening workshop, our Year 8 students recently delved into the crucial theme of respect. Facilitated by the Year 8 Middle School Leaders, the Rights, Resilience and Respectful Relationships (RRRR) Leader, the Leader of Student Wellbeing and other members of the Wellbeing team, the workshop explored the multifaceted dimensions of respect through engaging activities and discussions. 

Students actively pondered questions such as "What does respect look like, feel like, and sound like?"—a fundamental exploration that encourages them to internalise the essence of respectful behaviour. The workshop also delved into scenarios encompassing respect online, within peer relationships, with teachers, and in interactions with the wider community. 

Emphasising the importance of navigating respectful communication in diverse contexts, students were equipped with valuable insights to foster positive connections. Additionally, the workshop addressed the inevitable instances of feeling disrespected, providing students with constructive strategies to navigate and address such situations. This initiative not only cultivates a culture of respect within our school but also empowers our students with the tools to contribute positively to the broader community.

The workshop on respect garnered overwhelmingly positive feedback from our Year 8 students, highlighting its impact on their perspectives and interpersonal dynamics. Many students expressed appreciation for the practical approach, noting that the scenarios presented were relatable and offered valuable insights into real-life situations. 

A common sentiment among students was that the workshop provided them with a toolkit of strategies to navigate challenging situations, fostering a sense of confidence in their ability to contribute positively to our school environment. Overall, the positive student feedback underscores the workshop's success in fostering a culture of respect and understanding among our Year 8 cohort. 

Below is some student feedback:

What is something that you have learnt today that you believe will be helpful in treating others with respect?

“That we can be like a circle but some people might feel like stars.”

“There are better ways to respond to being treated with disrespect instead of lashing out at people.”

“Treat people how I wish to be treated.”

“That if you respect yourself, it is easy to respect others.”

“Ways to control myself when I’m being disrespected or way to help someone when they are being disrespected”

“I learnt that you have to be respectful to others even when you don't want to. I also learnt that in order to be respectful, and have others respect you back, you have to respect them in order for them to respect you mutually. I learnt how to deal with situations with respect.”

“Always being nice to others cause you don’t know what there going through”

“I have learnt how to respond when you get disrespected.”

“Finding a way to relieve excess frustration after being disrespected.“

“No matter what happens you can always walk away and ask to talk another time.”

Students also responded on what they thought would be beneficial for them in the future:

“Run more of these workshops.”

“Run more of these workshops to teach people about respect on a daily basis.”

“Get students from higher year levels like year 10 or 11 for a better communication as older students may know how some of the students feel so they know.”

“Exactly what you are doing now and informing people.”

“I would like to see a peace room that can help people go from angry to calm whilst in there and there will be adults to help them cool down.”

“Understand more about why people do it”

We want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Year 8 students for their exceptional behaviour during these workshops. Their active participation, thoughtful engagement, and respectful interactions made the day a success.

Mel Zulfic

Year 8 Year Level Leader