Throughout Semester 1, Year 11 students have led the Peer Support program, meeting with groups of Year 7 and 8 students. In their groups the Peer Support Leaders have worked through a range of activities that have supported transition into secondary school and focused on developing resilience.
The Peer Support program allows for meaningful connections to form across year levels, so that the Year 11, Year 7 and Year 8 students can acknowledge their strengths and achievements.
The Peer Support Leaders play an integral role in the program, as they develop leadership skills in a respectful and flexible setting, providing opportunities for them to explore the idea that how they view themselves and their challenges, can affect the outcome of situations.
Throughout the program the Year 11 students develop skills that encourage them to keep things in perspective, separating emotions and ascertaining facts to accurately identify challenges. Understanding how influential our thoughts are in responding to challenges is crucial, and is an essential skill students need within the senior years.
The Peer Support Leader role is a significant aspect of the College’s student leadership program. Students experience opportunities to develop and build positive relationships, define, identify and create a sense of belonging.
As Senior Years students in 2021, these students have demonstrated a strong commitment to our values and ensured that all members of our community are treated with kindness and respect.
Our current Peer Support Leaders have fond memories from their own experiences in working with the Year 11s, when they were new to our community, and it is always a pleasure to see them fulfil their goal of becoming a Peer Support Leader that was set in Years 7 and 8. As Peer Support comes to a close for 2021, we congratulate the Peer Support Leaders for their dedication and efforts as positive role models within our community.
Emma Ward
Senior Years Coordinator
