Trinity College Blakeview launch Better Buddies with a splash of purple

Students at Trinity College Blakeview, South Australia, have launched the Better Buddies Framework by wearing a splash of purple as part of their Better Buddies 'Purple Day.'

In 2011 Trinity College Blakeview faced a major challenge of moving the entire Junior School to a new location adjoining the Middle School. The school's leadership team knew that physically bringing the whole school together also provided the perfect opportunity to bring students together as one school community and assist them to learn and socialize in a caring and safe environment.

The Better Buddies Program fits with Blakeview's existing shared values and has been implemented to further develop the caring school community.

Better Buddies has been successfully implemented into primary schools across Australia and is designed to be adapted to meet the needs of all school communities.  With this in mind, Trinity College Blakeview has extended the program to include students in Years 8, 9 and 10 to provide a means for establishing connections between students in the Junior and Middle Schools.

At the beginning of the year, 50 students were nominated to be or to have a Buddy and each student participating in the program received a Buddy Bear, donated by the Better Buddies proud sponsor, NAB. Middle School students also attended a Buddy training session to help them to feel comfortable in their mentoring role.

Students participate in weekly Pastoral Care lessons that provide an opportunity for buddies to spend time together, complete activities and get to know each other. A Better Buddies 'Stop Sign' has been made and every Monday and Wednesday Buddies can get together informally in a shaded area, central to both the Junior and Middle Schools.

Better Buddies coordinator at Trinity College Blakeview, Janine Tuffery said Better Buddies was very popular among all students at the school.

"Several Middle School students have asked if they could be considered as buddies for the program in the future. There have also been requests from Junior School students and their parents to have a Middle School buddy," she said.

"As a result of the response and interest, the school has purchased 20 more Buddy Bears and we are presently allocating a further 10 sets of buddies to be included in the program," Janine added.

NAB are also providing local community support for Trinity College through NAB Buddy, Julie Tilley, Branch Manager at the NAB in Gawler.  Julie will attend an assembly at the school and be presented with a Buddy Bear of her own.  Better Buddies posters will also be displayed at the branch.

Trinity College Blakeview have a host of Better Buddies activities planned for the rest of the year including 'purple pancake day' and 'bring your teddy day'.  They are also looking forward to receiving more great Better Buddies resources from NAB, like the Activity Books provided for all buddies this term.

The combined efforts of School Counsellor Janine Tuffery, Head of Pastoral Care Middle School Bec Mason, Head of Pastoral Care Junior School Craig Bonnet and Social Skills Program Co ordinator Jennifer Stone have been appreciated by all involved.

The students, their families and Trinity College staff are delighted to be participating in Better Buddies.