National Buddy Day School Toolkit

Transcription

1 National Buddy Day School Toolkit National Buddy Day is an initiative of NAB and The Alannah and Madeline Foundation created to celebrate friendship and raise awareness of the issue of bullying amongst primary school children. In 2012, National Buddy Day will be on Friday, 1 June. National Buddy Day focuses on the ways in which kids can help other kids to learn positive behaviours, ultimately helping to reduce instances of bullying. In the lead up to, and on National Buddy Day, children all around Australia will show what they are doing to support each other. There will be a number of school-based activities to participate in Buddy Day including purple days, ideas for school assemblies (with a twist), Buddy Day stalls, and classroom activities. All activities will highlight the importance of peer to peer friendships. Outside of schools, Buddy Day will also be celebrated as part of the Richmond vs St Kilda AFL match on Friday, 1 June at 7.30pm. Additionally, children across Australia will be encouraged to join together in a gesture of friendship and learn the Buddy Handshake. For more information on the Buddy Handshake, visit All funds raised through National Buddy Day activities will support The Alannah and Madeline Foundation in continuing to develop the Better Buddies Framework. The Better Buddies Framework is an initiative of The Alannah and Madeline Foundation which helps students entering their first year of primary school to feel safe, valued and connected to the school community. The school pairs new primary school students with an older buddy. Better Buddies is designed to help reduce bullying and create friendly and caring school environments. The Framework builds strong relationships and research shows children benefit immensely. The Framework teaches students the values of caring for others, friendliness, respect, valuing difference, including others and responsibility. The Framework aims to create positive behaviour, as well as build students self-esteem, connectedness, social skills, trust and sense of community As a Better Buddies school, NAB and The Alannah and Madeline Foundation would like to celebrate Buddy Day with you and your school community. We have included in this pack a few ideas for your Buddy Day activities, but if you develop your own ideas, this is welcomed. We are here to help, and would love to hear about your activities, so please do not hesitate to the Buddy Day team at buddyday@amf.org.au and tell us how your Buddy Day activities go.

2 School activities In this guide, you will find a number of suggestions for celebrating National Buddy Day in your school. Some activities include a fundraising element, while some are simply to show your support of Buddy Day, and importance of positive relationships in school environments. This guide includes hints and tips for: 1. Holding a Purple Friday 2. Running a Buddy Day stall 3. Sharing the Buddy Handshake within the school community 4. Holding Buddy Day event (invite parents, barbecue, media - funding available, details page 7) 5. An assembly with a difference 6. Designing your school s very own Buddy Handshake 7. Including Buddy Day in your school newsletter 8. Buddy Kindness Day

3 Holding a Purple Day Holding a Purple Day is a simple way to show your support of Buddy Day, and raise much needed funds to further develop The Alannah and Madeline Foundation s Better Buddies Framework at the same time. What do we need to do? Invite your entire school community to wear a splash of purple in the lead up to, or on, National Buddy Day. You could either make the day casual clothes, or simply include a splash of purple, such as shoelaces, hair ribbons, etc. Nominate student representatives from each class to collect donations, and deposit all funds raised using the payment form provided for your school or through your school s very own Buddy Day fundraising page on the Everyday Hero website When should I hold my event? You can hold your event anytime before 31 August, however, the best time would be the lead up to, or on National Buddy Day, Friday 1 June. Please make sure all funds raised for National Buddy Day are deposited by 30 September What do I need to consider before holding my event? Decide whether you will hold a casual clothes day with a splash of purple, or simply add a splash of purple to the school uniform for that day. Consider how you are going to communicate Purple Day with the school community. We ve included a poster template that you can use to put up around the school and copy that you can include in your school newsletter. Let the students and parents know about the meaning behind Buddy Day and how their money will help raise funds for the Better Buddies Framework. (Refer to the Including Buddy Day in your school newsletter text) Consider who you would like to collect the donations, and how you tally the money (i.e. do students bring to the office? Or do teachers take to staff room?) What do I need to do after the event? Don t forget to take photos on the day and share them with parents through your school newsletter or website. Celebrate your fundraising achievements in your school s newsletter Finalise your fundraising and ensure money is banked using the donation form provided or via your school s online fundraising page. Send photos and your final fundraising tally to the Buddy Day team at buddyday@amf.org.au

4 Holding a Buddy Day stall Holding a Buddy Day stall is a fantastic way to show your support of Buddy Day and raise much needed funds to further develop The Alannah and Madeline Foundation s Better Buddies Framework at the same time. Holding a Buddy Day stall will also engage your local community in the wonderful work you are doing to help support friendly and caring school environments. A Buddy Day stall can be held in the week leading up to and on National Buddy Day or at another time before 31 August, and include items created by the school community, or donated by local businesses (or both.) What do we need to do? Send a letter to local businesses inviting them to donate baked goods, homemade items etc to a Buddy Day stall. You could write the letter as a class activity. In the week leading up to, or on Buddy Day, hold the stall during recess, and encourage the students to bring money to purchase goods from the stall. Nominate student representatives to manage the stall and collect the donations. Once you have collected the money, deposit all funds raised using the donation form provided for your school or via your school s Buddy Day Fundraising page. What do I need to consider before holding my event? Nominate a captain or committee to take charge of the planning. Contact local business and seek donations, or ask students and parents to create goods to sell in the stalls (baking, knitting, etc.). Consider a location for the stall in dry and wet weather conditions. Consider how you are going to communicate the stall with parents and students to ensure there is involvement on the day. Consider who will be operating the stall (i.e. teachers/parents/students?). Consider who you would like to collect the donations and tally the money.

5 Holding a Buddy Day stall continued When should I hold my event? You can hold your event anytime before 31 August or on National Buddy Day, Friday 1 June. Please make sure all funds raised through National Buddy Day are deposited by 30 September. What do I need to do after the event? Don t forget to take photos on the day and share them with parents through your school newsletter or website Celebrate your fundraising achievements in your school s newsletter Finalise your fundraising and ensure money is banked through using the donation form provided or through your school s online fundraising page Send photos and your final fundraising tally to the Buddy Day team at buddyday@amf.org.au

6 Sharing the Buddy Handshake Sharing the Buddy Handshake through the school community is a fantastic way to raise awareness for National Buddy Day and the Better Buddies Framework. Kids help each other to learn the Buddy Handshake which has been designed to symbolise the importance of friendships, to highlight the values of the Better Buddies Framework, and for kids to show their support for National Buddy Day. All handshakes have a meaning whether it be purely a polite introduction, to show gratitude or to affirm an agreement. Similarly, the Buddy Handshake has meaning, with each move representing the Better Buddies values of caring for others, friendliness, respect, valuing difference, including others and responsibility. The Buddy Handshake is a gesture of friendship between children and forms part of the overall activities planned for National Buddy Day. Children can learn the steps to the Buddy Handshake by visiting or by obtaining the Buddy Handshake guide at your local NAB branch. What do we need to do? Access the Buddy Handshake instructions via the Buddy Day website Alternatively, you can visit your local NAB Branch from mid-may to collect the instructions. Students to teach the Buddy Handshake to other students either in the classroom or at assembly. Ensure that you let students know the meaning behind the handshake. In the week leading up to, or on, National Buddy Day, hold an event where all students in the Better Buddies classes or the whole school, do the handshake in unison as a gesture of friendship. This event could be at the beginning of recess or during an assembly. Ensure you capture footage or photos of the mass Buddy Handshake in action. When should I hold my event? In the lead up to, or on National Buddy Day on Friday, 1 June. What do I need to do after the event? Don t forget to take photos on the day and share them with parents through your school newsletter or website Send photos and a description of your event to the Buddy Day team at buddyday@amf.org.au

7 Holding a Buddy Day event Holding a Buddy Day event is an incredible way to show your commitment and support to National Buddy Day. Additionally, holding an event which includes parents, allows your school community to raise funds for The Alannah and Madeline Foundation, to help them continue to develop their Better Buddies Framework. Holding a Buddy Day event will also engage your local community in the wonderful work you are doing to help support friendly and caring school environments. Ideas for Buddy Day events are: A school barbecue where the community comes together to celebrate Buddy Day. A stage show highlighting positive behaviours. A stage show where the students teach the teachers. Any other wonderful ideas that you or your buddies come up with. What do we need to do? Send a letter to local businesses and parents inviting them to attend the Buddy Day event. You could write the letter in a class activity. Hold the event in the week leading up to, or on, National Buddy Day, and celebrate friendship and the Better Buddies Framework. Nominate student representatives to decide what type of event it will be and also to collect the donations on the day. Once you have collected the money deposit all funds using the donation form for your school or through your school s Buddy Day fundraising page. What do I need to consider before holding my event? Determine what type of event you will be holding. Consider a location for the stall in dry and wet weather conditions. Consider how you are going to communicate the stall with the parents and students to ensure there is involvement in the event. Consider who will be operating the event on the day (i.e. teachers/parents/students?)consider who you would like to collect the donations and how you tally the money. When should I hold my event? You can hold your event anytime before 31 August, however, the best time would be the lead up to, or on National Buddy Day, Friday 1 June. Please make sure all funds raised for National Buddy Day are deposited by 30 September 2012.

8 Holding a Buddy Day event continued What do I need to do after the event? Don t forget to take photos on the day and share them with parents through your school newsletter or website Celebrate your fundraising achievements in your school s newsletter Finalise your fundraising and ensure money is banked through using the donation form provided or through your school s online fundraising page Send photos and your final fundraising tally to the Buddy Day team at buddyday@amf.org.au Is there any funding available to hold a barbecue event? NAB has some funding available (in the form of gift cards), for schools that are keen to hold a Buddy Day barbecue event. The WISH Gift Cards help schools to purchase food and drinks for the Buddy Day activity. Please amf@nab.com.au with the information about your event in order to request funding.

9 An assembly with a difference To empower students to be positive role models for their peers and to highlight how students teach each other the values of the Better Buddies Framework, host a school assembly with a difference this National Buddy Day. What do we need to do? Reverse the roles of students and teachers so students run the assembly and teach teachers and parents about the Better Buddies Framework. Selected buddies (from Grade 6 and Prep) speak to the entire school about what their buddies mean to each them, and how important it is to look out for each other. Principal to speak to parents about how important the values of Better Buddies are to the school and how these values help prevent bullying. The assembly can include a demonstration of the Buddy Handshake with students teaching other students how to do the Buddy Handshake. What do I need to consider before holding my event? Identify students who would feel comfortable speaking to the whole school about what their buddy means to them. Identify students who would feel comfortable teaching other students the Buddy Handshake. Invite parents, grandparents and friends to be a part of the Buddy Day celebrations and hear why their children enjoy being part of the Better Buddies Framework. Consider any other activities that you would like to include as part of the assembly. When should I hold the event? You can hold your event anytime before 31 August, however, the best time would be the lead up to, or on National Buddy Day, Friday 1 June. What can I do post the event? Don t forget to take photos on the day and share them with parents through your school newsletter or website Send photos and a description of your event to the Buddy Day team at buddyday@amf.org.au

10 Design your very own Buddy Handshake Every handshake has a meaning. The six steps of the Buddy Handshake represent the values of the Better Buddies Framework - caring for others, friendliness, respect, valuing difference, including others and responsibility. To support National Buddy Day, design your own school handshake that represents the unique values of your school. What do we need to do? This could be done in many, different and equally fun ways: Select students to design a handshake with a special meaning for the whole school to learn The students can then go to each class to teach all students how to do the special school handshake. On National Buddy Day all students can come together to do the school handshake to celebrate the friends they have at school. Alternatively, each class can design their own handshake that has special meaning of the values of their classroom. Representatives from each class can reveal their handshake on National Buddy Day and explain its meaning at a special school assembly. What do I need to consider before designing the handshake? Consider the unique and special values of your school community. Identify how they can be incorporated into your handshake. Consider how you will design the handshake will all students be involved or will students be selected to design the handshake and teach it to the other students. Or will it be a classroom driven activity? Consider how you can bring all students together to do the handshake on National Buddy Day. When should I hold the event? Begin designing the handshake in the lead up to National Buddy Day. Teach all students how to do the handshake in the week leading up to National Buddy Day. Host an event for students to come together to do the handshake on National Buddy Day.

11 Design your very own Buddy Handshake continued What do I need to do after the event? Don t forget to take photos on the day and share them with parents through your school newsletter or website Celebrate your fundraising achievements in your school s newsletter Finalise your fundraising and ensure money is banked through using the donation form provided or through your school s online fundraising page Send photos and your final handshake to buddyday@amf.org.au Take photo of the handshake and post on your school website with a description of what it means. Send photos to the Buddy Day team for them to be posted on the Buddy Day Website. Include details of the handshake and National Buddy Day assembly (including photos) in your school newsletter.

12 Including Buddy Day in your school newsletter Spread the word about Buddy Day by telling your school community all about your Buddy Day celebrations. What do I need to do? Communication is key to making your Buddy Day and any fundraising initiative a success. Here s some tips and suggested communications to help everyone understand what you ve got planned. Ways to communicate to your school community: Include details in your school newsletter and enewsletter. Use the suggested wording below. Include a special article in your newsletter that features two student buddies writing about what their buddy means to them and why they are celebrating their friendships on National Buddy Day. If you are holding an event or fundraising activity on National Buddy Day, include details of the event or activity in your newsletter and invite parents, friends and other members of your school community to join in the celebrations. Involve your students, parents and teachers in planning the day. Ask everyone to spread the word. Make some PA announcements in the lead up to the big day. Put up posters around the school using the poster template provided. After your National Buddy Day celebrations, include photos and a re-cap of activities in your school newsletter, including how much you raised in support of National Buddy Day. Here s some text you can use in your school newsletter: What is National Buddy Day? National Buddy Day is an initiative of NAB and The Alannah and Madeline Foundation created to show the importance of friendship and raise awareness of the issue of bullying amongst primary school-aged children. In 2012, National Buddy Day will be on Friday 1 June. National Buddy Day focuses on the ways in which kids can help other kids to learn positive behaviours, ultimately helping to reduce instances of bullying. In the lead up to, and on National Buddy Day, children all around Australia will show what they are doing to support each other. Our school will be celebrating Buddy Day and helping to raise funds for XXX on the day with a special (insert details of your fundraising event here).

13 Including Buddy Day in your school newsletter continued How will my donation help the Better Buddies Framework? Your donation will help the Foundation to further develop and grow the Better Buddies Framework. There are more than 1000 schools participating in the Framework but there are still many more that would benefit. Our aim is to grow the Framework to help create more caring and friendly school environments where bullying is reduced. What is the Buddy Handshake? The Buddy Handshake is a gesture of friendship between children and forms part of the overall activities planned for National Buddy Day. Children can learn the steps to the Buddy Handshake by visiting or by obtaining the Buddy Handshake guide at your local NAB branch. Encourage as many children as possible to learn the Buddy Handshake and celebrate friendship on National Buddy Day.

14 Buddy Kindness Day Holding a Buddy Kindness Day is an incredible way to reinforce the values of Better Buddies while raising funds to further develop The Alannah and Madeline Foundation s Better Buddies Framework. What do we need to do? Brainstorm some acts of kindness with your class which demonstrate the values caring for others, friendliness, including others, respect, valuing difference and responsibility. Examples include: speak to someone you don t know, have lunch with someone new, introduce yourself to someone new, learn something new about your classmates. Using your Everyday Hero fundraising page, set up fundraising pages for the students. Encourage the students to get sponsored by their family and friends to complete acts of kindness. Communicate details of Buddy Kindness Day to parents and the community using the resources provided. Celebrate Buddy Kindness Day with a sausage sizzle or invite students to wear purple. Nominate student representatives to collect any cash donations on the day. Once you have collected the money, deposit all funds using the donation form for your school or through your school s very own Buddy Day Fundraising page. What do I need to consider before holding my event? Determine what type of acts of kindness will be encouraged, Consider how you are going to communicate the stall with parents and students to ensure there is involvement in the event. Consider who will be operating the event on the day (i.e. teachers/parents/students?), Consider who you would like to collect the donations and how you tally the money, When should I hold my event? You can hold your event anytime before 30 September or on National Buddy Day. Please make sure that all the funds raised through National Buddy Day are deposited by 30 September. What do I need to do after the event? Don t forget to take photos on the day and share them with parents through your school newsletter or website Celebrate your fundraising achievements in your school s newsletter Finalise your fundraising and ensure money is banked through using the donation form provided or through your school s online fundraising page Send photos and your final fundraising tally to the Buddy Day team at buddyday@amf.org.au

15 Thank you! Thank you for your support of National Buddy Day. Funds raised through your school s activity will help The Alannah and Madeline Foundation further develop the Better Buddies Framework. Together, The Alannah and Madeline Foundation and NAB, are striving to implement the Framework in all primary schools across Australia. The number of participating schools has increased from 30 in 2007, to almost 1,000 in 2012.