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 empower individuals to build positive, caring relationships with others especially in times of conflict.

The Cool Schools Peer Mediation Programme aims to :

• Raise awareness of how one's self and others act in conflict situations.

• Teach life long conflict management skills so that individuals feel empowered to make positive choices towards peaceful conflict resolution.

• Develop leadership in giving service to others and promoting respect for differences and diversity.

•  Empower individuals to believe they can make a positive difference in their homes, schools, communities and beyond.

Cool Schools and the New Zealand Curriculum

The Cool Schools programme is aligned to the New Zealand curriculum. It provides a vast array of opportunities to help young people develop the values, competencies, knowledge and skills needed to address conflict in their everyday lives. This programme provides particularly effective learning to help develop the key competencies of 'Managing Self and Relating to Others'. The learning objectives can be easily incorporated into teh health education programme.

Cool Schools also supports schools to fulfil the rights of every child to an education that respects, protects and fulfils human rights.

Peer Mediation

Conflict is part of everyday life; it's how we deal with it that makes the difference.

The Cool Schools Peer Mediation Programme enables students to act as third party mediators between two or more of their peers, who are caught up in a conflict and want to see it resolved constructively and peacefully

Cool Schools Learning Areas

• Defining conflict

• Responses to conflict

• The role of the mediator

• The mediation process

• Problem solving and creating agreements that work

• Active listening

• Identifying and expressing feelings

• Using "i" statements

• Effective questioning

• Handling difficult situations

Positive Outcomes

• Skills provided for constructive relationship building for pupils, teachers and parents.

• Helps schools create a safe physical and emotional school environment.

• Students develop an appreciation of conflict as something that can be handled positively and learnt from.

• Students in the programme enjoy increased self-esteem as a result of their role as peer mediators.

• When pupils settle their conflicts through peer mediation they are much happier and more productive in class.

• Teachers have less conflict to deal with and more time for quality teaching.

• Changes are even seen in the home. Children who have  learnt mediation skills at school will be able to solve conflicts with their brothers and sisters much more peacefully and constructively.

Implementation of Cool Schools at Sacred Heart School

• Whole school staff training

• Cool Schools Co-ordinator selected

• Peaceful conflict resolution skills taught in all classrooms

• Class mediators in action

• School peer mediators selected and trained

• School peer mediators on duty in the playground

• Weekly peer mediators' meeting with coordinator to support team and evaluate progress

Sacred Heart School has 35 trained peer mediators. They are trained to help disputants resolve minor conflicts. They should never be expected to resolve major conflicts. These will be handled following our school's behaviour management process by the Duty Teacher.