Cool Schools Peer Mediation Programme

Dear Parents/Caregivers

Woodstock School is about to embark on the introduction of the Cool Schools Peer Mediation Programme.

Cool Schools is a whole-school proactive programme that teaches essential life skills for peaceful conflict resolution. The skills taught in this programme enpower individuals to build positive, caring relationships with others especially in times of conflict.  Staff will be trained in these skills, so they can be passed onto the students in their classrooms. This includes junior children!

The initial idea for Cool Schools started back in the 1980s. The programme was developed with collaboration between the Peace Foundation, students and Teachers Education for Peace and the Mobile Peace Van.

The idea of using a simple mediation process to solve problems was sparked by the popular book ‘The Peace Foundation’. It was children themselves who saw the wider vision and were responsible for introducing the concept into the classrooms.

Our school will be searching for senior mediators over the coming weeks. Being a mediator is an absolute privilege because it is the mediators who hold the destiny of the programme in their hands. Students that are selected for the role of mediator will receive special training.

Christina Burruel from the Peace Foundation will be running a parent meeting on Wednesday 2 April from 7-9pm in our School Library. As Woodstock School sees this programme as invaluable as it empowers students in the art of dialogue and communication which is something they can use for the rest of their lives we would strongly recommend attending this parent meeting.

This mediation approach can also be used within the family unit as an effective way to solve disagreements amongst siblings.

Please return the slip below so we have an indication of numbers.

Many Thanks

Steve Ostermann

Principal

 

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Cool Schools Parent Evening

I am able to/unable to attend the Cool Schools Parent Meeting on Wednesday 2^nd April.

Parent Name:_______________________________  Contact Number: _________________

Name of child: ______________________________  Room Number: __________________

Number attending ________________________________________