St George's Buddy Program
Pairing new and younger students with older students is one way St George's ensures everyone feels settled and belongs.
"The initial experience of adapting to a novel environment, interacting with unfamiliar teachers and peers, and navigating unfamiliar systems can be quite overwhelming for new students.''
— Mr Ian Thompson, Head of Pastoral Care
St George's Anglican Grammar's Buddy Program is considered a vital support mechanism for new students enrolling at various times throughout the academic year.
The initial experience of adapting to a novel environment, interacting with unfamiliar teachers and peers, and navigating unfamiliar systems can be quite overwhelming for new students. Hence, this system has been implemented to provide students with a fellow student who serves as a reliable point of contact and a source of guidance throughout the day, offering much-needed support during this transitional period.
As soon as students enter Years 8 to 12 at St George's Anglican Grammar School, they are paired with a buddy to facilitate their integration into the school community. Similarly, any Year 7 student who joins after the new student orientation day is also assigned a buddy. On the new student's first day, the buddy, alongside the Head of Year, greets and accompanies them on the ground floor. The buddy's role encompasses assisting the new students in locating their classes, introducing them to their Pastoral Care Group and Year group peers, and being available to address general inquiries about the school. Efforts are made to match new students with buddies who share similar interests and hobbies, fostering connections and rapport between them.
The Buddy program spans the initial two weeks of every new student's journey at St. George's Anglican Grammar School, ensuring a smoother and more comfortable transition into the academic community.
The Buddy program is considered a vital support mechanism for new students enrolling at various times throughout the academic year. The initial experience of adapting to a novel environment, interacting with unfamiliar teachers and peers, and navigating unfamiliar systems can be quite overwhelming for new students. Hence, this system has been implemented to provide students with a fellow student who serves as a reliable point of contact and a source of guidance throughout the day, offering much-needed support during this transitional period.
As soon as students enter Years 8 to 12 at St George's Anglican Grammar School, they are paired with a buddy to facilitate their integration into the school community. Similarly, any Year 7 student who joins after the new student orientation day is also assigned a buddy. On the new student's first day, the buddy, alongside the Head of Year, greets and accompanies them on the ground floor. The buddy's role encompasses assisting the new students in locating their classes, introducing them to their Pastoral Care Group and Year group peers, and being available to address general inquiries about the school. Efforts are made to match new students with buddies who share similar interests and hobbies, fostering connections and rapport between them.