By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
THERE’s never a shortage of buddies at Berwick Lodge Primary School.
Last Wednesday, 4 June, the school celebrated National Buddy Day with a special Buddy Afternoon Tea which was attended by students and teachers and supported by local business Phil’s Pies.
National Buddy Day is organised by the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, a national charity which protects children from violence and its devastating impact.
Berwick Lodge is an ambassador school for the foundation, with students and staff wearing purple for last week’s Buddy Day.
Berwick Lodge assistant principal Debbie Cusack said the aim of National Buddy Day is to reduce bullying in Australian primary schools.
“Schools are encouraged to celebrate this day and raise funds for the Alannah and Madeline Foundation to introduce their Better Buddies Framework to more primary schools across the country,” she said.
“By empowering children to care for each other, we can help reduce bullying in their future.
“The Better Buddies program encourages the older children to set a good example for their younger buddies, in respecting others and appreciating differences.
“At Berwick Lodge primary we embrace the importance of this program and extend the Buddy system beyond the prep to year six pairing to ensure that all students have a buddy from a different year level.”
