Peer Support Training Day was a great success with 53 students engaging in a program designed to challenge their leadership capability, problem solving techniques and collaborative skills. The day started with shared reflections on the qualities of leadership, followed by some workshopping responses to potential scenarios that they might face in a Year 7 classroom. After the break collaborative skills were tested as students worked together to construct the towers with spaghetti and masking tape, that could hold the weight of a marshmallow. While the team that crafted the tallest tower got bragging rights, it was through the group reflection after the task that students noted success wasn’t actually about the tower at all, but about the way they worked together, listened to each other, made plans and solved problems. The final part of the training program involved groups of 4 learning a new game and then leading the whole group through the activity. This section of the day really tested students planning, collaboration and communication skills as they got some experience 'managing' a class while delivering a learning activity.

It was such a difficult task to select the final 35 peer support leaders. All the students involved in the training day were engaged, willing and a testament to the leadership capacity in the current Year 8 cohort.

I would like to thank all the students who took part in the day, and I would also encourage all of them to continue to take up any future leadership opportunities.