Jodi Chandler of NAB presents a Better Buddies award to Shae. Looking on are Briana, Alicia, Toni and Stephanie, in the back row, and Elsie,By Kath Gannaway
ELEVEN Badger Creek Primary School students were officially recognised last week as shining examples of what it means to be a caring and friendly buddy.
Jodi Chandler from Healesville National Australia Bank presented certificates and a buddy bear to the students as part of the bank’s involvement in the Alannah and Madeline Foundation’s Better Buddies schools program.
Badger Creek is one of 150 schools involved in the program that aims to create safe and caring school communities where bullying is reduced.
“It’s about getting on well with other kids,” said school principal Garry Embry.
Under the program, grade six students are buddied up with prep students allowing the younger ones to feel safe and cared for while the older ones feel valued and respected.
Each week a prepie showing quality of being a good, caring friend is recognised with an award and a purple buddy bear – the symbol of friendship and responsibility.
The awards presented last week were one-off recognition of students from every grade, who stood out for their caring qualities.
“Of all the school awards we give out, I regard this one as a really important one,” Mr Embry said.
“In the seven years you spend here at Badger Creek if you learn to genuinely care about other people, then your primary schooling would be very successful,” he told students.
