Olympic buddies

MOSSGIEL Park Primary students enjoyed a mini Olympics afternoon, as the official launch of the school’s Better Buddies program run by the Alannah and Madeline foundation.
Primary welfare officer Lyn Pentland was pleased with the older students’ leadership and initiative shown at the mini Olympics.
“On Thursday the year 4 and 5s were just outstanding, it’s so good to see the older students being so responsible and caring,” Mrs Pentland said.
Mossgiel Park Primary is one of 200 schools selected by the foundation to implement the program which is designed to help prevent bullying.
Students in grades 4 and 5 are encouraged to develop friendships with younger students through activities such as non-competitive sports days and a book week.
The older students organise, set up and are responsible for the events outlined in their student manual provided by the Alannah and Madeline foundation.
“It’s not the teachers helping the prep, it’s the buddy helping the prep – they become the teacher,” she said.
While the students enjoy the set activities, it’s the Better Buddies purple mascot, Buddy Bear, that is a particular favourite.
Mossgiel Park Primary is looking forward to future Better Buddies events and will continue the program with next year’s preps and grades 4 and 5.