07 March 2011
As an extension of Fahan’s Pastoral Care program, Fahan is now a Better Buddies school and Lucy Rees, Year 10, has created the School’s own logo for the program by redesigning the Alannah and Madeline Foundation’s Better Buddies mascot, Buddy Bear.
With Buddy now dressed in Fahan uniform, Fahan School is the first school in Australia to create their own version of the Better Buddies logo.
The Alannah and Madeline Foundation approached Fahan in 2010 to become a Better Buddies school. This was an unusual thing in itself, as usually schools are required to apply to become Better Buddies schools. However, based on the strength of Fahan’s existing programs and the Year 9 and 10s wonderful work to help prevent cyberbullying, in conjunction with Crime Stoppers, last year, the Alannah and Madeline Foundation asked if Fahan would like to take up the opportunity.
The founder of Better Buddies, Maree Stanley, visited Fahan School last week to meet students and was delighted with Lucy’s redesign of Buddy Bear, congratulating her on her work.
The Better Buddies framework is used to support and enhance the School’s existing pastoral care systems.
It involves older students participating in positive, supportive, structured and facilitated one-on-one relationships with younger students to enable younger students to feel safe and cared for while older students feel valued and respected.
With the support of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, we aim to teach all our students the importance of looking after each other.
The outstanding redesign of Buddy Bear will now be the official Fahan mascot for all Big Sister, Little Sister programs.
To read more about Better Buddies click here.
Photos:
1. Lucy Rees' redesign of Buddy Bear
2. Deputy Head Girl, Elli Hopkins; Junior School Chair, Belle Bennett; Penny Carlson of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation; Better Buddies founder, Maree Stanley; Computing and Maths Teacher, Jane Macrossan and Junior School Chair, Stella Weston-Smith.
3. Maree Stanley addressing Year 10 students and seeing the unveiling of Buddy Bear
4. Our Buddy Bears in Fahan uniform
