Special Activities

Our mediators continue to be successful at Greenacres School because we don’t only mediate disputes, we also teach virtues and the code of behaviour, reward positive play and talk to students to help make them feel comfortable at school.

Each year a team of mediators undergo an intense training programme. Year 5 mediators go on to be trained as mediator leaders the next year. Mediator leaders help Mr Farrand to train new Year 5 and Year 6 mediators and then continue to support them over the year.

Mediators have regular meetings with a teacher to discuss current mediations, continue their own training and also to analyse report forms in order to best select which virtue may be needed as a whole school focus, for example, friendliness, respect, co-operation etc.

To help younger students understand how a mediation works, the mediators perform a role play for them to help them feel more comfortable around mediators. The little kids can also ask questions to help them understand how mediators can help them. Mediators also use hand puppets as a tool to help cheer up, or resolve disputes between, young students.

Mediators make good use of the ‘Friendship Spot’ at our school. This is a place where students who have nobody to play with, or are feeling upset, go. Mediators check this area often while on duty and then use their mediation skills to help these kids out.

At Greenacres School we have introduced different virtues over the past two years. In 2012 we will continue to teach kids about each virtue through our assemblies and house meetings and also talk about what types of behaviour to suppoirt each other that mediators are looking for in the playground.

During the week, mediators on patrol select students who have displayed a virtue and present them with a certificate during the next assembly. Mediators also have special ‘Greenacres School Mediator Award’ stickers that they hand out in the playground to kids who have a great attitude and display the virtues, for example, playing with someone who feels lonely (friendliness) or letting other students join in a game (co-operation).

We believe our mediation programme is a success at Greenacres School because our mediators are an accepted part of school life, they help teach students about virtues, our code of behaviour (based on Human Rights & Responsibilities) and also help to resolve disputes. Most importantly, our mediators are encouraged and supported by the principal, management, teachers, students and the community.

Original Report by Glenys Loke & Barbara Harris 2009

Reviewed & Updated by the Mediation Team & Mr Farrand 2012


				Why Mediators Continue to be Effective at Greenacres School
			Our mediators continue to be successful at Greenacres School because we don’t only mediate disputes, we also teach virtues and the code of behaviour, reward positive play and talk to students to help make them feel comfortable at school. Each year a team of mediators undergo an intense training programme. Year 5 mediators go on to be trained as mediator leaders the next year. Mediator leaders help Mr Farrand to train new Year 5 and Year 6 mediators and then continue to support them over the year. Mediators have regular meetings with a teacher to discuss current mediations, continue their own training and also to analyse report forms in order to best select which virtue may be needed as a whole school focus, for example, friendliness, respect, co-operation etc. To help younger students understand how a mediation works, the mediators perform a role play for them to help them feel more comfortable around mediators. The little kids can also ask questions to help them understand how mediators can help them. Mediators also use hand puppets as a tool to help cheer up, or resolve disputes between, young students. Mediators make good use of the ‘Friendship Spot’ at our school. This is a place where students who have nobody to play with, or are feeling upset, go. Mediators check this area often while on duty and then use their mediation skills to help these kids out. At Greenacres School we have introduced different virtues over the past two years. In 2012 we will continue to teach kids about each virtue through our assemblies and house meetings and also talk about what types of behaviour to suppoirt each other that mediators are looking for in the playground. During the week, mediators on patrol select students who have displayed a virtue and present them with a certificate during the next assembly. Mediators also have special ‘Greenacres School Mediator Award’ stickers that they hand out in the playground to kids who have a great attitude and display the virtues, for example, playing with someone who feels lonely (friendliness) or letting other students join in a game (co-operation). We believe our mediation programme is a success at Greenacres School because our mediators are an accepted part of school life, they help teach students about virtues, our code of behaviour (based on Human Rights & Responsibilities) and also help to resolve disputes. Most importantly, our mediators are encouraged and supported by the principal, management, teachers, students and the community. Original Report by Glenys Loke & Barbara Harris 2009 Reviewed & Updated by the Mediation Team & Mr Farrand 2012