Day of Friendship at Balgowlah North Public School

URSTRONG’s Day of Friendship includes a variety of student workshops where students will learn the 4 Friendship Facts, qualities of a great friend, and how to use the Friend-o-meter to assess healthy versus unhealthy friendships. We will also discuss the importance of standing up for yourself and how to put out Friendship Fires® through an open, honest conversation. These workshops include a handout with an overview of the key concepts to share with parents.

Fuzzies and Friends (Years 1 & 2)

Through fun role-play with teddy bears, children learn the basics of friendship including the 4 Friendship Facts, qualities of a GREAT friend, and how to use the Friend-o-meter to understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy friendships. We also practice, step-by-step, how to put out Friendship Fires™ by putting a voice to our feelings.

Heart of Friendship (Years 3 & 4)

Through fun role-play with teddy bears, children learn the basics of friendship including the 4 Friendship Facts, qualities of a GREAT friend, and how to use the Friend-o-meter to understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy friendships. We also practice, step-by-step, how to put out Friendship Fires™ by putting a voice to our feelings and how to stand up to Mean-on-Purpose behavior using a Quick Comeback.

Friendship Fires (Years 5 & 6)

In this workshop, students learn what’s normal in a friendship, the importance of trust & respect, and how to use the Friend- o-meter to assess healthy versus unhealthy friendships. They learn the importance of standing up for themselves, how to put out those common Friendship Fires™, and how to deal with Mean-on-Purpose behavior using a Quick Comeback. We also discuss their digital world and some tips for keeping friendships healthy online.

Friendship Tips for Teens (Year 7)

In this workshop, students learn URSTRONG’s friendship framework and how it applies to both the real world and their online world. They learn what’s normal in a friendship, the importance of trust & respect, and how to use the Friend-o-meter to assess healthy versus unhealthy friendships. Students learn a simple strategy to put out Friendship Fires™ and how to deal with Mean-on-Purpose behavior. We also discuss friendship groups & cliques, ANTs (Automatic Negative Thoughts), negativity bias, and peer pressure.