Willy Kids are Friendly KidsWeekly Blurbs

TERM 1COURTESY

Week 1 Smiling

As we welcome everyone back for the new year we could hardly do better than focus on smiling as an introduction to the new year. Smiling is such a wonderful friendly thing to do. It’s fun and contagious and you can’t say that about too many things! It is a great way to break the ice with new friends and classmates, parents and staff. So plenty of smiles all around!

Week 2 Listening

With all classes now well underway, one of the most important skills any child or adult can develop is the skill of listening. Listening involves a lot more than hearing. Listening means concentrating on what the other person is saying, showing that you are listening by looking at the speaker and responding in some way; perhaps by nodding your head and certainly by responding to what they say with a question or statement.Some do’s and don’tsDo look at the person speaking.Stand still while you’re listening.Respond to the speaker.Don’t fidget or look at the ground.Do concentrate on what you want to say.Don’t ignore the speaker or change the subject unless that is appropriate.

Week 3 Playing Together

(eSmart focus)As you are no doubt aware Williamstown Primary has had some difficulties with playground space over the last few years and this highlights the need for us to be able to play together. Playing together does not just mean playing happily with our friends, although that is important. Playing together means sharing our space and our games sensibly so everyone can enjoy their playtime. It means thinking about other people and their games and making sure we are playing sensibly so everyone can enjoy themselves. In past years it has been amazing to see two football matches and a soccer game playing together practically in the same space on the oval. This shows real co-operation, (and imagination!)Some do’s and don’tsDo play in sensible places. For example, footy for the big children should be on the oval.

Do look to see if other children are involved in a game or an area before you set up your game.Do play safe games, particularly in small spaces.Don’t run through other children’s games.Don’t interfere with other children’s games.Don’t take over other children’s areas.

Willy Kids are eSmart Kids Look after our Computer Lab Share equipment Provide support for each other, when needed Respect and care for our Computer Lab Remember to log off and leave the Computer Lab as found

Week 4

Please and Thank-youThere are opportunities every day to say please and thank-you. At home, in the classroom, at the canteen, visiting the office, in the yard, at a friend’s home – there are people who help us and all of them need to be treated courteously. One great way we can do this is by saying please and thank-you. You will be surprised how much people value please and thank-you. These simple words let people know you do appreciate what they do for you and also let them know you are a friendly kid. So this week let’s hear lots of please and thank-yous!

Week 5Give Way

Given the size and “busyness” of our school one of the things we really must practise the skill to give way. Give way at school is very much like give way on the roads. We wait first and then allow others to pass before we go. We need to give way to people coming out of doorways. Step back, perhaps even hold the door open for them. Be sensible though, if someone is carrying something heavy and needs to enter, then let them pass. In the playground giving way might mean letting some children continue their game, or retrieve their ball before you move into an area or play your game. In many ways giving way is another way to show how courteous you are. It is another way of sharing and showing you are a friendly Willy Kid.

Week 6 Excuse Me / Sorry

Part of being a friendly kid is realising that from time to time you might inconvenience others. You may not mean to, but sometimes this is unavoidable. When these occasions do arise we all need to know how to handle them courteously.

If we have to interrupt somebody working, or perhaps two people talking, we should begin by saying “excuse me”, and then quickly explain what is so important. Of course before we interrupt, think! Do we really have to deal with the matter immediately? Can it wait for a short time? Is it really important? If it is important, then “excuse me” is the way to go.Occasionally too we make mistakes which inconvenience others. We might accidentally bump into someone, or not hold a door open for them, or interrupt them at the wrong time, or turn up late or all sorts of things. If these things do happen, quickly apologising by simply saying “sorry”, shows the other person that you really did not mean to inconvenience them. And of course, try not to let it happen again. That’s really saying sorry.Try them out this week. Excuse me and Sorry.

Week 7Taking Turns(eSmart focus)

Almost every day at school we need to take our turn. Sometimes it is in the classroom and other times outside in the yard. We need to take our turn at the canteen or for the drinking taps. In games we need to take our turns to bat, to bowl, to pick teams and all sorts of things. Remember, Do wait patiently,

allow others to finish before you start, give others a chance to have their go.Don’t push and shove, push in, always have to be first.

Willy Kids are eSmart Kids Share computer resources Wait your turn Share computer time equitably

Week 8

Being Helpful (eSmart focus)

Almost every day at school there are ways to be helpful. In the classroom we can help our friends and our teachers. Outside in the playground we can help children from other classrooms and especially some of the younger children at our school. There are all sorts of ways to help others at our school; you can help people carry things, help them pack up,

help them get equipment, help them find things. You can help your teacher by keeping your locker and room tidy, by being on time and by listening carefully. And of course there are plenty of things you can do to help at home as well. See if you can think of something useful to do at home that will help Mum and Dad this week.Good luck and good helping!

Willy Kids are eSmart Kids Share their computer knowledge and skills Demonstrate leadership skills to help facilitate teaching and learning of ICT Work in teams cooperatively Respect a quiet working area

TERM 2RESPECT

Week 1Good Winners and Good Losers

Winning is great fun but we should remember that we need to win in a way that keeps our friends and promotes others’ respect for us. Celebrate our successes but do it in a way that does not offend or hurt others.At all times play fairly. Give others a go and stick to the spirit of the rules. In the end the game should be fun for all, win, lose or draw. DoKeep smiles and celebrations low-key.Comment on good players but do not overdo it.Always try hard even if you are winning.Thank others for the game.Give others a go. Don’tDon’t boast about your ability or victory.Don’t comment on how far behind the others are.Don’t point out where the others are going wrong.Don’t act happy about others’ mistakes. eg don’t clap or laugh at poor shots.

Don’t cheat or manipulate others.

Week 2Playing Fairly

Whatever age you are, playing games is a great pastime. There are a whole range of games we play, from footy to cards, and while it is always good to do your best it should always be done in a fair and friendly way. Playing fairly means not just following the rules of the game, but following the spirit of the game. By all means try your hardest, use your best strategies and support your team mates, but always do this in a fair and reasonable way. Start every game in a friendly manner. Make it obvious to everyone that you are here to enjoy yourself and are looking forward to the fun of playing, not just winning. Encourage those in your team and give them an opportunity to participate. Similarly, respect your opposition and all their hard work as well. Always respect the decision of the umpire, and if things don’t go your way, be prepared to put that behind you and get on with the game. When the game concludes you should always congratulate both the winners and losers on their efforts; they have all tried equally as hard. Be a modest winner and a grateful loser. Help pack up at the end if there is equipment involved, and look forward to the next challenge. You will earn so much more respect by being a fair player than you ever will by being a proud winner or bad loser. Playing fairly is a great challenge and one we should always try to meet.

Week 3Body Language

We can communicate much of what we feel and think through speech but that is not the only way. Body language is also a very powerful way of communicating. How we stand, how we look at others, how we show them we are listening, the look on our face, often says more than hundreds of words. In classrooms next week we will consider the different ways you can use your body language to communicate.

How do you show someone that you are listening?How do you show people you are friendly?What types of body language are negative?What can we learn from other people’s body language? Think how you use your body language and practise those types of things that encourage friendly behaviour.

Week 4Voice

Along with body language, learning how we should use our voice is very important. Often it is not the words we say, but how we say them, that really let’s people know how we feel.We can use the tone and volume of our voice to convey lots of messages. Just think how many different ways you can say the word “no”.Think about the way you use your voice to show people that you are friendly. Even when you have to say something that is difficult or you have to disagree with someone, you can use your voice in a way that is fair and friendly, not mean or unfriendly. Perhaps in your class next week you can practise using your voice in many different ways and see what messages it sends.

Week 5Using Appropriate Language

(eSmart focus)The words we choose to say are often determined by the environment we are in and the people to whom we are talking. Good communicators understand that we need to choose language that is appropriate to various situations. If you are speaking to your elderly aunt you will probably choose language different from that chosen to speak to your friend. If you met the Prime Minister it might be different from meeting your cousin. Similarly the language we would choose at a football match is likely to be different to that used in a church. Being able to work out what language is appropriate in a range of circumstances is important. We need to be aware of the needs of those around us and communicate in the best possible way.

Willy Kids are e-smart Kids use appropriate e-smart language when communicating online with others respect the privacy of others only use their own passwords

Week 6Respecting Adults

There are many adults around our school and homes who help us. It may be your teacher, the adults in the canteen, our Fresh Fruit and Lost Property parents, or perhaps your next door neighbour, and of course your mum and dad. Sometimes we do not realise it, but these people are always looking after us, making sure we are safe and happy. A great way to show these people that we do appreciate their help and concern is by showing them respect. We can do this in lots of ways - by saying please and thank-you, by giving way, by offering to help, just by listening when they speak.Respecting adults is important. All of us would like people to respect us, and we certainly expect people to respect the adults we know well, like our parents and grandparents. Respecting adults shows everyone that we are friendly and appreciative children at Williamstown.

Week 7Respecting the One Another

(eSmart focus)There are so many things we have in common and so many interests we share, that often we assume that everyone thinks and behaves the same as we do. Certainly there are many things that all, or nearly all, kids like – e.g. playtime, PE, Music, winning a prize, playing with our friends; there is a huge list. But sometimes we need to consider there are people who have different interests to us, and that their different interests are just as worthwhile as our own. And sometimes these differences are between boys and girls. While many girls and boys often share the same interests, sometimes they do not. Sometimes they like to play different games, or watch different TV shows, or listen to different music. All of that is OK! It does not make one better than the other. We need to respect both males and females and the choices that they make, and be happy that there are at times differences.

Willy Kids are e-smart kids use appropriate language and communicate respectfully with members of the opposite

sex report inappropriate incidents to ensure respect for the opposite sex

Week 8Respecting Differences

(eSmart focus)There are many things we have in common and share at Williamstown PS. But there are many ways in which we all differ. Some of us like football, while others prefer netball.

Some like maths, others prefer reading books. Some people like to listen to CDs; others like to play on the computer. Some like the Western Bulldogs and some go for the Bombers. Some of us are tall, some of us are short. Some are strong and some are fast. In some way or another we are all different and that makes us all the more interesting. It would be pretty boring if everyone went around doing exactly the same thing - we would all be like robots. Thankfully we are not robots, we are human and we are all different. Even in the same family we are different from our brothers and sisters. Rather than worrying about these differences we need to accept and respect them, and also to celebrate them. It is good that we are all different; all special and unique. Let’s celebrate this and find the good in us all.Willy Kids are e-smart kids

respect different levels of proficiency accept individual’s preferred choices of games/programs/activities

Week 9Respecting Property

(eSmart focus) revisit protocolsAround our school, our home and the homes of our friends there are many things we use that make our life more enjoyable. At home it may be the television, the stereo or the computer, at school it may be sports equipment, art materials or some of the play equipment in the yard. Whatever we use, we need to look after, not just for ourselves but because others like to use these things as well. Respecting property means making sure we put it back where it belongs. It means treating it carefully, cleaning up after ourselves and leaving the equipment just as we would like to find it. It means sharing equipment so that others enjoy it as well.Respecting property also means we respect all the property of others even when these things may not mean much to us. One child’s special toy may not mean much to us but it does mean a lot to them. We need to respect this.Willy Kids are eSmart Kids

Look after our Computer Lab Share equipment Provide support for each other, when needed Respect and care for our Computer Lab Remember to log off and leave the Computer Lab as found

Week 10Respecting our school

We all enjoy our school. School means different things to different people, but everyone has their favourite place to be. For some people this may be reading a book in a quiet corner of their classroom or working on the computer in the library. For others it may be sitting with friends under the old trees, playing footy on the oval or climbing on the equipment. Whatever you like to do it is important that we look after our school, both inside and outside, so that it is a pleasant place to be.Respecting our school means making sure we work together as a team to keep it clean and free from litter. It means making sure no-one damages the buildings, furniture or school equipment. The trees and gardens need to be respected too, as they not only make the schoolyard look better, but they also provide shade and shelter. Over the past few years we have made significant improvements to our gardens making the school a more pleasant environment for us all. With this work continuing we again need everyone to take care and respect this work. This is our school. We should be proud of it and work hard to ensure it is a clean, safe and happy environment for everyone.

 

Building relationships

Building relationships means getting to know other people – their likes, dislikes and interesting things about them. It means getting to know kids who you may not already be close friends with and it means getting to know the adults at school also. The easiest way to build relationships is to use your Willy Kids skills- everyone loves being friends with a Willy Kid! Be kind, be caring, be friendly, be happy, be courteous, be resilient, be helpful, play nicely, smile, use your manners, take turns, play fairly, show respect, include others and show that you are keen to make new friends.

Week 11 Punctuality

There are many important social skills we need to think about in the Willy Kids program but perhaps there are none more relevant than punctuality.  Being punctual simply means being on time. And unfortunately there are too many times when we are not as punctual as necessary. It is hard to cooperate with someone if they are not even there! Being on time is important. At school it is important to be on time, ready and organised to begin learning whether it be at the beginning of the day or after lunch and recess. Being on time shows that you are courteous and aware of the needs of those around you by not making them wait for you to arrive. Children who are late for school or late for classes during school often miss important information and this can leave them feeling left out for the whole of the lesson as well as disrupting classmates and teachers.  If you are late for class it is hard to settle down and concentrate. It is everyone’s responsibility to be on time – mums, dads, kids and teachers. So make a special effort next week and throughout the year.

TERM 3 CO-OPERATION CASEA Program

Week 1Bullying

Bullying remains a major issue not only for schools but for our whole community, and it is essential that all children, parents and staff come to an agreed understanding of what constitutes bullying, what characterises a bully, and what strategies we can all use to lessen and/or eradicate this behaviour.Survey results over the past few years would indicate that bullying at Williamstown PS is significantly and relatively lower than many other schools, however it would be naïve and irresponsible for us to become complacent about this issue.Bullies and bullying exist in schools, workplaces, clubs and communities. The causes and effects are complex and difficult to manage, but it is essential the issue is tackled and dealt with in a manner that protects and supports the victims, as well as encouraging behavioural change by the perpetrators.Interestingly the most recent research on combating bullying suggests that the approach taken in the Willy Kids program is the most effective. Articulating what bullying is, giving all children the language to discuss and dissect the problem and setting clear guidelines on what is expected is the most effective way to go. We hope to build on these approaches further in the coming weeks.

What is bullying?One of the problems we observe when dealing with bullying is the inappropriate use, or, over-use of the term bully, or even bullying. Occasionally a child will act in a harsh or nasty manner toward another prompting the use of the term “bully”. This is not necessarily true, nor helpful. As bad as the behaviour may be, most one-off instances are not bullying. This is often the case if two children are involved in an argument or a fight where one is hurt or upset. Of course we would never condone such bad behaviour but it does not necessarily mean that bullying is involved. Bullying typically involves sustained, deliberate, inappropriate behaviour aimed at hurting or denigrating one or more children. It is important that we make this distinction because the way in which we categorise the behaviour will impact on the manner in which we deal with the incident.We look forward to working with the children in the coming weeks of term three on this important matter.

The following discussion from Helen McGrath’s book, Friendly Kids, Friendly Classrooms, should be useful for all.

Who are bullies?Bullies look for victims. They look for people who don’t look confident and who don’t stand up for themselves. Here are some of the reasons why bullies behave in the way they do: they are jealous of others; they don’t know how to feel successful in other ways; it makes them feel powerful to bully someone else; it helps them be noticed by other people; they feel inferior to others and use bullying as a way of covering up those feelings and

trying to convince others that they don’t feel inferior.

What do bullies do?Here are some of the things that bullies do when they are trying to injure, upset, or embarrass: they hurt others physically, or hurt their property; they call them names or use insults and “put-down” comments about them; they draw attention to their weaknesses in a nasty way; they deliberately exclude them from activities; they play mean practical jokes on them or try to set them up to be embarrassed; they try to get other students to do all these things to their victims too. Other students

who also doubt themselves will often join in with the bullying. Sometimes they join in so that they won’t get bullied too.

How can we deal with bullies? We can let them know that what they are doing is bullying. We can refuse to join in with their bullying. We can support any students who are bullied. We can stand up for ourselves if anyone tries to bully us by:

telling them stop; or ignoring them or saying “no” or asking an adult for support if nothing else works.

Children involved in bullying at Williamstown PS need to understand that the school takes the matter very seriously and they will face significant consequences for their actions.

Week 2 What is Cyberbullying?

eSmart focusMany kids have access to computers, iPads and other mobile devices which we are fabulous twenty-first century tools. However, sometimes these tools can be misused. We need to understand and be aware that bullies and bullying not only exists in schools, workplaces, clubs and communities, but also exists in cyberspace. As such, we need to recognise what cyberbullying looks like and who can help us if we ever experience it. Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology such as mobile phones, computers, and tablets as well as communication tools including social media sites, text messages, chat, and websites.Cyberbullying can happen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and reach a kid even when he or she is alone. It can happen any time of the day or night. Cyberbullying messages and images can be posted anonymously and distributed quickly to a very wide audience. It can be difficult and sometimes impossible to trace the source. Deleting inappropriate or harassing messages, texts, and pictures is extremely difficult after they have been posted or sent.

Willy Kids are e-Smart Kids

Some things that cyberbullies may do? Post photos online without permission Post inappropriate comments and messages Assume different identities

Who can help us? What should we do? Don’t retaliate Speak to a teacher, parent or adult you can trust

Week 3Being Assertive -Cool, Weak, Aggro

Usually when we are solving a problem we have to talk to other people. There are good ways and bad ways of talking to people to resolve a problem. Good ways often lead to the problem being solved but bad ways usually don’t.

The best way of talking about things is to be assertive or Cool. Being Cool is speaking firmly but in a friendly, polite manner while standing tall and looking the person in the eyes. It helps if you can feel confident, in control and happy when you do it. If you are able to be Cool the other person is more likely to feel like you are someone that they would like to listen to.

The other not so useful ways that we often talk are Weak and Aggro.

Weak is when we whine or mumble about what we want. Sometimes if you are feeling shy, unhappy and not confident you may come across as Weak. Crying or sulking to get your way is another Weak response. Also standing too far away or looking down at your feet can be a Weak way of trying to solve the problem. Being Weak means that the other person is less likely to listen to you or take you seriously.

Aggro is when we talk in a way that makes the other person feel bad. Shouting, yelling and being threatening are Aggro. Sometimes even just standing too close to someone when we are trying to solve a problem can feel Aggro to them. Often if you still feel angry about the problem when you talk about it then you will come across as Aggro. If you are Aggro the other person might get Aggro back at you and then the problem starts all over again.

When you are trying to be assertive:

DO:- Stand tall and look the other person in the eyes- Be polite and friendly- Feel confident and in control.

DON’T:- Shout and yell or mumble and whine- Stand too close or too far away- Be threatening or give in too easily- Feel either angry or shy

Week 4Feelings

We all have feelings all the time. Sometimes our feelings are soft and we are not really aware of them, like enjoyment or amusement. Other times our feelings are strong and can become almost overwhelming, like love or grief or rage. People feel their feelings, and show their feelings, in different ways. Some people’s voices give them away; others show in their body language or their facial expressions.

We have lots of sayings in our language that illustrate the many ways that feelings can be felt. For example: “Walking on air”- happy“Ants in his pants” – excited“Down in the mouth” – grumpy or sad

“Butterflies in my stomach” – nervous or anxious ‘Hot under the collar” - annoyed“Boiling over” or “About to explode” – very angry “Heart in my mouth” or “Hair was standing on end” – scared

Feelings in themselves are not good or bad. It is more important whether our feelings are appropriate and how we let others know about them. We need to be aware of both our own and other’s feelings in order to cooperate well.

DO:- Be aware of how and where you feel your feelings: in your voice, in your body, in

your face.- Think about how you show your feelings- Try to be aware of, and take into account, how others are feeling

DON’T:- Feel bad about having feelings like anger or sadness- Ignore bad feelings. It’s often better to talk about them with someone you trust.

Week 5Managing Strong Emotions

Last week we looked at how our emotions are expressed in our faces, our bodies and our voices. However, sometimes our emotions can become so strong that they are over-whelming. When feelings become overwhelming they often stop us from thinking about how we are acting and stop us from solving our problems the best way.

When anger becomes over-whelming rage we can sometimes break things or hit other people or say really hurtful things to someone who we actually like. When nervousness becomes overwhelming fear we can sometimes just freeze and become completely unable to say or do anything, even though we want to.

We need to have ways that we can manage our strong emotions before they become overwhelming. That way we can avoid the bad things that result from them. Different people use different ways to manage their strong emotions. Some methods are; walk away from the situation, take ten slow breaths, imagine a calming place or experience, tell yourself to stay calm, go for run or a bike ride, stroke and talk to your pet.

Remember it is much better to try to manage your feelings before they become overwhelming. Once the volcano has exploded it is much harder!

DO:

- Think about the different ways that you can stay calm- Practice different ways when your feelings are not yet too strong- Allow other people to use their ways to stay calm, even if they don’t make sense for

youDON’T:

- Assume that the same things work for everyone- Leave it too late to start managing your strong emotions

Week 6Introducing Stop, Think, Do

eSmart focus

Often the reason that our feelings explode is that we have left it too late to manage them and then we get into that sticky situation where we behave in ways that are not good for us, or those around us. Most of the time, we get angry or worried because we are faced with some kind of a problem or something where it is hard to know what to do. Of course the best thing would be if we could solve the problem before we get to the point where our feelings are too strong to manage.

One way to do this is to use Stop, Think, Do. As soon as you feel yourself feeling those feelings that you know sometimes get out of control then … STOP: Stop; don’t rush in. Use your calming down strategy. Maybe walk away for a minute or go to your calming down place. Take 10 slow breaths and then ask yourself, “What is the problem?” Once you have worked out what the problem is then …

THINK: What are all the things you could do? Try to think of more than one thing that you could do. There is often more than one way to solve a problem and maybe the first thing you think of isn’t always the best. Think about what would happen next if you did each of these things. Which one of these would have the best outcome do you think? Then …

DO: Try it! How did you do? Don’t worry too much if it didn’t work. You can always try again and use one of the other things that you thought of. Give another one a go! Of course the hardest thing about the whole Stop, Think, Do strategy is the first bit - Stopping! Practise with a situation that isn’t too important. That way, when you are in a situation where you are likely to really get angry or worried, you know you can Stop if you need to.Willy Kids are eSmart KidsSTOP if they are viewing or seeing something they are uncomfortable withTHINK what they could do if that situation happens again.DO seek help and try not to be anxious about what has happened

Week 7Social Problem Solving

Our last topic introduced Stop, Think, Do. We now need to think about the Thinking bit!

Often when we react to a problem without thinking about it we make the problem worse. After we have done the really hard bit of Stopping, the Think part of the strategy is about coming up with different ways that we can solve the problem. It is a good idea to think of as many ways as possible to solve the problem as we can. If the first one we try doesn’t work then we have some other ways ready to try.

For each possible way of solving the problem, we think about what the consequences of that way might be. Sometimes the consequences might be good in the short term but bad in the long term. So we need to think about what both the short and long-term consequences might be before we choose the one that we are going to try out first.

For example: if someone we don’t really know well has picked up our ball during a game. We could:

- Hit them and take it back- Ask for it back- Go and play a different game- Ask them if they want to play too

Each way of solving the problem has some short and long-term possible consequences. After we have a Think we can choose the option that seems the best one and Do that. If it doesn’t work we have some other ways to try as well.

When trying to solve a problem:DO:

- Think of more than one way to solve it- Think of both the short and long-term consequences of each way- Try one but be ready to try another if that one doesn’t work

DON’T:- Just react without thinking- Try the first thing that you think of- Try anything before you have thought through what the short and long-term

consequences might be.- Give up if the first one doesn’t work

Week 8Including Others

Why Learn This Skill?Including others in your games and activities makes everyone feel good. It means that you are generous and willing to share your time with others and care about their feelings. If you include others in your games, they are more likely to include you when you are looking for someone to play with or talk to.

What you can try...Look around and see if there are others who might like to join in. Sometimes they might not even ask but stand close by. Try to include them. Put the team interests ahead of your own interests. Recognise everyone’s contribution to the team and congratulate them.

What you should avoid... Don’t criticise team members even when things go wrong. Don’t try to dominate a team.

But be reasonable… Remember that sometimes it is not possible to include everyone

eg. You may have missed an invite to a sleepover, and as difficult as that might be, you need to remember that sometimes there just isn’t room for everyone.

Sometimes games or activities might just be for two in which case you will have to wait your turn.

Week 9 Negotiating/Cooperation

Why Learn This Skill?If you want someone to do something for you, or to give you permission to do something, the best way to get what you want is to negotiate. Negotiation involves trying to get what you want by firstly working out what the other person wants and trying to give it to them. This way is called the “win-win” way of negotiation because both people get something they want. It is different from a “win-lose” approach where someone gets what they want and the other person doesn’t get anything.Negotiating needs to be planned and each side has to complete their side of the bargain. For example, you might want a ride to footy training so you negotiate with Mum to give you the ride and in return you will put the rubbish out. If you do not keep your part of the bargain you won’t be trusted next time and the relationship suffers. Remember You are more likely to get what you want and keep friends if the other person gets something too.

Do’s Decide what you want. Think about what the other person might want in return (e.g. they might want to be sure that something they lend you will be looked after). Pick a good time to ask. Make your request, pointing out how the other person will get something that they want too. Use a friendly tone of voice. If you can’t work out what they want in return, ask them directly. If the other person won’t agree to what you want, accept that. You won’t always get what you want. Keep your side of the bargain.

Don’ts Don’t ask at an inconvenient time (e.g. when the other person is busy or talking to

someone else). Don’t use a grizzly, whingeing voice. Don’t threaten, sulk, insult or get angry if you don’t get what you want.

Week 10Bouncing Back- Resilience

Dealing with change, loss or difficulty is part of life. At some point we all have to deal with disappointment and frustration. Some of these challenges will be minor, such as not being selected for the team you want, while at other times you may be faced with something really serious. How we manage these problems can play a major role in how happy we are, not just now, but into the future.People who deal best with life’s problems are said to be resilient. They have the skills and strength to keep their cool in difficult situations and to recover from the setbacks quickly. They accept that things don’t always work out exactly as they want but are prepared to make the best of a situation and get going again.It is not as if the problem is any less for them just that they see the problem as something to get over.

People without resilience become overwhelmed and view challenges as catastrophes. They find it hard to move on and often get stuck hoping that someone will solve the problem for themSome people are fortunate and have a natural resilience; they are good in tough situations. Others of us have to work hard at building resilience, and that is something we will think about this week.

How do we build resilience?Like most things in life we are best if we practise. Here are a few tips you might like to try.Next time something goes wrong, stop and think:

“Is this problem so big I cannot manage it?” “What can I do to make this situation better?” “Is crying, whining or complaining going to help the situation?” “Is there another way to look at this problem?” “What have I done in the past to get over problems?” “What is something positive I can learn from this?” “How will getting through this make me more resilient?” “Is there someone I should talk to about this?”

Building resilience is not something we will do in one easy lesson. It takes time, persistence and a belief that you can sort out most problems by taking a positive approach. And by taking this approach you will be a happier, friendly Willy kid.

Saying No

Sometimes people find it hard to resist pressure from others to do:

a) things that they don’t really want to door

b) things which are mean, wrong or dangerousWe all need to practice saying no confidently and calmly, but still remain friendly and firm.

Some of the important do’s and don’ts of saying no are –

Do

look in their eyes tell them you don’t want to do it briefly say why (eg. “no, I want to do something else after school”).

Or

if it is a mean thing or against rules or dangerous point out the consequences (eg. “No it is too risky” or “No, that’s mean”).

Sometimes you might want to thank them for including you (eg. “Thanks anyway”)

Keep your tone of voice and expression friendly and calm Continue to calmly say no if they keep asking you. Try not to get angry.

Don’ts

Don’t look away or down at the ground Don’t say yes just so they’ll like you Don’t say yes because you’re scared that they’ll say bad things about you If what they ask you to do was mean, dangerous or against the rules, don’t give them

a lecture about it. Don’t get angry or upse

ExtrasWorking Together

Often we need to work together with other people to get something done. For example: when deciding which game to play; when deciding on rules for a game; when working in groups or pairs; when deciding what topic to do a project on in class, or who is going to do what in that project.

When we work with other people we don’t always agree on things at first. In these cases we need to work together and negotiate the problem, which means to work out the problem in a way that is fair for everyone.

There are five steps involved: * Listen to what the other person says that they want * Say what you want * Think of some ways that you can both get what you want if possible.* Remember that you don’t always get everything or exactly what you want * If you can’t both get what you want - then think of a way where you both get some of what you want (Compromise).

While you are negotiating it is important to do it in a Cool way, not a Weak or Aggro way. Make sure you listen really well to the other person’s ideas and think about them. If you do, you might even decide that their idea is better than your idea! Think about what is fair to all those involved. Think about the consequences of all the ideas.

When working together:DO:

- Listen to others- Be Cool when you say what you want- Remember that you don’t always get everything what you want- Try to come up with the best solution for everyone involved

DON’T:

- Be Aggro or Weak- Try to win at the expense of other people- Be upset if you don’t get what you want

TERM 4 RESPONSIBILITY

Week 1Doing your best

Whatever task we take on, whether it is schoolwork, playing a game with friends or even helping at home we should always aim to do our best. We should always aim to take pride in what we do, to achieve our potential and be proud of our efforts. We cannot always be the best at things, but we can always try our best, and no-one can ask more of us than that.

This week have a think about some of the simple things you do and ask, “Is this the best I can do? Could I try a little harder and make sure this is my best effort?

You will be surprised at what a difference this makes and how others around you will appreciate your efforts. So, give it a go – be your best!

Week 2

Setting Goals

Setting goals means working out what you want to achieve before you start. If you do this well then you should have some idea of how you can achieve what you want. When setting your goals try to make them realistic - in other words, try to aim for something that you can achieve and most importantly aim for something you really want to achieve. Don't be concerned with the goals of others around you. Work out what you want and go for it.

Week 3Who Can Help Me?

(eSmart focus)

From time to time we all need some help. It might be a problem we are having with our school work, with our friends, perhaps even something at home. Sometimes it is possible to deal with a problem ourselves but at other times it is good to have someone to help.

A whole range of people can help us - some we know well, and perhaps at times others we do not know quite so well. One of the best things we can do is to choose the best person to help us.

At school you might choose to ask your teacher for help, or perhaps one of your friends. You might even be able to ask the Principal or a teacher you know well.

Friends are often good helpers as well but remember your friends are usually the same age as you and might not be able to provide all the things you need.

Of course your family can be great helpers. Discussing a problem with your Mum, Dad, brother, sister, even another relation could be useful.

There are many people who can help us. The trick is choosing the right person. And remember, no matter what, there is no problem too big that you cannot talk about it to someone.

Willy Kids are eSmart Kids Share their computer knowledge and skills Report any inappropriate material to their teacher immediately Follow the Cybersafety rules and responsibilities

Week 4Consequences (eSmart focus)

Whatever we choose to do, there will always be consequences. If you play out in the rain, you will get wet, and your parents are probably not going to be too happy. If you stay up late, the next morning you won’t feel like getting out of bed. If you leave your homework to the last minute, chances are you won’t have it finished on time and there will be trouble. At the same time if you practise your tables or spelling, or your cricket or your netball, you might be surprised at how much better you become.

Consequences are natural. The difficult part is trying to work out what the consequences will be before you make your choices. It is a good idea to take a bit of time to THINK first! If you play football inside there is a good chance you’ll break something. That is not very smart. Better to play outside or down the park. Think about the consequences before you act.

Willy Kids are eSmart Kids Acknowledge responsibility of any actions Make efforts to “fix up” any issues to ensure their ICT privileges remain

Week 5

Rights

(eSmart focus)

We quite often hear the word rights. So what are they? People talk about the right to an education or the right to vote. Basically it means people are entitled to something and that those around them, or those in authority, should make sure they get what they are entitled to.

In our school children have a number of rights:

The right to learn The right to be safe The right to be respected

It is everyone’s responsibility to make sure that these rights are respected.

How can you do that?

Make sure that you help those around you learn by being a good learner yourself. Concentrate on your work and send your time productively in class.

In the playground play safely and look after those around you. Be friendly and this will help others feel safe.

Respect all people in our school. Think about how you behave with them.

Look after the rights of others and your rights will be looked after as well.

Willy Kids are eSmart Kids Share their computer knowledge and skills Demonstrate leadership skills to help facilitate teaching and learning of ICT Work in teams cooperatively

Week 6

Seeing it through

There are few more admired qualities in people than perseverance and that means seeing it through! So many great people have this quality and it is one we can all aim for. Seeing it through means sticking at something until it is finished, until the job is done. It means that when things are difficult you don’t give up and walk away. It means you might have to try a bit harder; it means you might have to get someone to help you; it means you might have to try things a different way; but mostly it means you stick with what you set out to do until you are happy with the result. Good luck!

Week 7Fixing things up

From time to time we make mistakes. At times we make these mistakes accidentally, at other times we are careless or occasionally we simply choose to do something we should not. Mistakes are a normal part of growing up and if we learn from our mistakes we end up better in the end.

Learning to "fix things up" after mistakes is a difficult thing to do, but it is so important. "Fixing things up" means repairing the damage you have caused to someone or something. It means you take responsibility for what has happened and through your actions prove to others and yourself that you know you have made a mistake and you want to improve the situation.

Be prepared to say sorry and then prove you are sorry by not letting it happen again.

If something has been damaged, offer to fix it or replace it.

Take responsibility for your actions and be the first to say sorry; don't wait until you have to apologise or told to by someone else.

Week 8

Having a go

Having a go is one of the best attitudes anyone can have. Having a go means trying something that you may not have tried before, or even trying something that you think you might not be too good at. There are all sorts of things we need to have a go at. It might be a new game, a new musical instrument, or it could even be a new skill to learn at school. It might even be a new friend or a new group of people. Having a go works best if you really give something a good try and stick at it even if it does not work out the first time. But be careful. Having a go does not mean being reckless or careless. It does not mean you put yourself or anyone else in danger. Always have a think about what you are going to have a go at. If you think it is suitable for you, then go for it!

Week 9Leadership

What does it mean when we talk about leadership? Who are leaders and what do they do? Are there different types of leaders? How do we become good leaders?

These are some of the questions that people often think about when they think of leadership because leadership is a very difficult idea. People of all ages often talk about leadership. Who are leaders? Is it the captain of the team? Is it the fastest runner? The best artist? The smartest kid in the grade? Well possibly.

What are some of the qualities of leaders?

Leaders can be all sorts of people. They might be the best at something but being good at something doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be a leader.So if they are not necessarily the best, what are they? Often leaders are those people who have the ability to inspire those around them and get them to work together to achieve a common goal. It might be the person who helps organise a game, or the

person who helps everyone get started on a task, or even the person who helps sort out problems in a group.Leaders may sometimes be the boss, they may even be bossy, but more importantly, leaders are good listeners. They are fair to everyone and give everyone a go. When they understand what the group wants to do they set about helping everyone get started and help keep things on track. Leadership isn’t necessarily for everyone but perhaps you might like to give it a try.

Week 10Being Positive

Being Positive is a great attitude to have. People enjoy being around positive people. Positive people do things. They take chances, they try their best, they don’t give up and they make the most of every situation. They enjoy most of what they do and help others have a good time as well. Certainly at times we need to look at the bad or the dangerous side of things and take them into consideration when making our decisions, but don’t get carried away with all the bad things. Enjoy the situations you are in and try to look at them positively, even when they are difficult. If nothing else a tough situation will help you learn about how well you cope with hard times, and you might be able to plan better for next time.

Week 11Celebrating

Congratulations to everyone on a great year and now it is time to celebrate and look forward to next year.The last week of school presents us with many opportunities to celebrate. There will be class parties, excursions, fun, games and the grade six Presentation Evening. Join in all the celebrations and enjoy yourself. We have shared many good and a few difficult times over the year and it is now time to celebrate our achievements. Well done to all.

Extras

Choose Your Attitude

Choosing your attitude is a useful skill to learn. Life always throws up surprises on a day-to-day basis. These events whilst not always easy to deal with can become easier to manage if you approach them with the right attitude. Here are some things to think about.

Understand that you alone are responsible for your attitude.

Switch your attitude when the one you have chosen is not working. Respond to problems and mistakes in a way that strengthens relationships, not damages them. Choose the impact you want to have before you enter difficult situations.