Festival of Friendship at St Aidan's RC Primary School
Pictured: Father Ian McParland, Mrs Ward (Class 5, centre), Miss O'Brien (class 2, left) with pupils.
Staff and pupils at St Aidan’s RC Primary School in Huyton recently held a week-long “Festival of Friendship”. The entire week was devoted to promoting the values of friendship and anti-bullying strategies. All members of staff were involved in the planning of the week, and all pupils took part in a wide range of activities.
Pupils were given a great deal of freedom during the week to work together on group projects, all of which were aimed at helping children to make friends and learn how to deal with bullying.
The week began with a visit by a puppet theatre who performed their own play, “Tom and the Trolls,” which carried a very powerful anti-bullying message.
Year
6 pupils held a general election. They split into ‘friendship party’
groups and produced their own manifestos based on promoting the positive
aspects of friendship and its importance. The election itself took place
during a special Assembly on the Friday when representatives from each
‘party’ read out their manifesto. Voting was by clapping.
But it wasn't just the older children who got involved. Every class produced something for the special Assembly. Year 2 pupils worked on a series of role-plays. They were asked to act out how they would feel in a given situation if they didn't have any friends, and then with a friend. They talked about their feelings and what they had learned from the experience.
Everton FC coach Alan Johnson was one of the many visitors to the school during the week. He reiterated the philosophy of friendship week when he visited all classes in the school, explaining the necessity of friendship and team support.
Carole Boycott, the schoo’s Senior Learning Mentor, told Huyton Today, “Friendship and anti-bullying are important parts of the new PHSE curriculum in schools. We felt that by holding our festival of friendship it would help to focus the children's attention on the subject and reinforce the message. The children have produced some very impressive work, including poems, the year 6 election manifestos and contributions to our friendship scrolls in the school reception area.”
“Not all children find it easy to make friends. The week’s activities have shown them not only how to make friends but also the importance of not excluding others. The whole event was a great success.”
Although it was hard work for everyone involved, pupils at the school learned a great deal from the week. The anti-bullying elements were probably best summed up by Jade Roberts of C8 who told Huyton Today, “It helped some bullies realise that you need a friend.”