Cool Schools Peer Mediation Programme

Here at St Mary MacKillop School we have wonderful students.  Occasionally we use the Cool Schools Peer Mediation programme to help children peacefully resolve any situations of conflict that may arise in the playground.  During each class break, teams of Mediators support the duty teacher by following the Cool Schools restorative justice procedure when conflict arises between students.  Quickly all issues are resolved and the students are back playing together.

Cool Schools

The Peer Mediation Programme teaches our Year 8 mediators the following skills:

* Active listening
* Recognising different feelings
* Using ‘I’ statements and affirmations
* Recognising types of responses to conflict
* Asking Open and closed questions
* Helping children experiencing conflict to find peaceful solutions to their problems
* Handling difficult situations

Mediation improves the school climate in many ways:

* Students develop an appreciation of conflict as something that can be handled positively and learnt from
.
* Students become equipped with valuable skills for handling conflicts both within and outside the school.
* A much improved and more cooperative school atmosphere develops.
* There are fewer incidents of students involved in troublesome behaviour and an increase in self esteem.
* Students are provided with an excellent resource for dealing with future conflicts in life.