Dear Parents and Carers,

Social / Emotional Development and Learning In the daily life of school there are thousands of exchanges and interactions between students, these occur in the playground, transitioning around the school, and of course during learning time. Many of the interactions are positive and productive and honour our yellow school pillar of 'Looking after each other.' At school assembly each morning we often celebrate these wonderful characteristics of our St Pat's kids.

Sometimes the words and actions between students are not as respectful as we would expect. At school when we are managing these types of interactions we take the view that this is a teaching / learning opportunity. We know as children grow they become more socially aware and able, and generally make fewer mistakes.

School process:

* We listen to the students and they get to recall (or write down) from their perspective what was said and what was done. 

* We remind the students that we will listen to each person who was involved.

* We let the students know that the truth of the interaction is somewhere in the centre of all the versions.

How can you help?

As parents, it is natural to want to understand and support your child’s perspective on events they experience. Accepting your child’s version of an event is an important step in validating their feelings and experiences. It shows them that their voice matters and that you are there to listen and support them. However, it is equally important to help them understand that every event can be seen from multiple angles, and the complete truth often lies somewhere in the middle of all the participant versions.

As at school, where we encourage students to share their experiences openly while also teaching them to consider the perspectives of others involved, you at home can use this approach. This helps them develop a balanced view of events and fosters critical thinking. When discussing an event with your child, acknowledge their feelings and version of the story, but gently remind them that others might have different experiences and viewpoints. This can be a valuable lesson in empathy and understanding, helping them to appreciate the complexity of human interactions.

We encourage you to practice this process at home, including by discussing various scenarios and encouraging your child to think about how others might have perceived the same event. You can ask questions like, “How do you think your friend felt about what happened?” or “Why do you think the teacher responded that way?” These conversations can help your child develop a more nuanced understanding of events and learn that the truth is often a blend of different perspectives. Together, let's continue to nurture thoughtful, empathetic children who are capable of seeing the world through multiple lenses.

Blessings,

Jo