Peer Support
Above: The 2010 Peer Support Camp at Eagles Nest, Gidgeganup
Peer Support is a student-centred and student-run programme which focuses on promoting a culture of leadership at JSRACS, providing training and guidance in leadership, and encouraging the support of students by students. The programme is a three phase journey.
In the first phase, potential leaders are invited to apply towards the end of Year 10 by completing an application form, attending a number of meetings and then taking part in a three-day training camp. Phase One is organised and run by a selected group of the outgoing Year 11 PST leaders and is pivotal in teaching about leadership, group management, organisation, reaching potential, overcoming fear and communication. Soon after this camp, the new PST Team is selected and Phase Two commences at the beginning of the next year.
The now Year 11 leaders are allocated to specific Year 8 pastoral care groups (PCG), usually along House lines. These leaders, operating in small teams of six, work with their allocated PCG each week, discussing relevant issues including bullying, racial discrimination, diversity, homework, organisation, making friends, building relationships, family life, communication, peer pressure and drugs. Perhaps more importantly, the leaders offer the Year 8 students support, friendship and a sense of connection with the JSR community. This phase is completely monitored and facilitated by the Year 12 leaders who were initially responsible for training the group in Phase One.
At the conclusion of Phase Two, the Year 11 leaders can choose to continue to Phase Three by applying to become advanced leader/trainers. Twelve successful applicants embark on the Cape-to-Cape walk in our beautiful South West and learn about their fellow team members, themselves, their strengths and their weaknesses. The group plans and conducts the walk, buys their own food, carries their own equipment and deals with any issues that arise during the camp. This group is subsequently responsible for training and teaching the new, Year 10 applicants as well as overseeing and evaluating the lessons conducted during Phase Two.
In this way, PST is cyclical and self-generating. Now, the programme is branching out into peer mentoring where a bank of trained leaders are working one-on-one with students as young as years 2 and 3. This is providing fabulous results for these students. PST has firmly established itself as the primary leadership formation programme at JSRACS.
School Values
John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School is a school of The Anglican Schools Commission with a mission to build a Christian community of learners, to provide a quality educational experience, and to nurture the whole person in the three dimensions of mind, body and spirit.