Program teaches resilience

Staff and students have shown their enthusiasm for learning and for a new school-wide program, according to Harvey Primary School principal Jason Romeo.

The Highway Heroes: Smart Life Skills 4 Kids program is an emotional intelligence-based curriculum being used in schools across Aus-tralia to help teach children resilience.

After a professional development day with Australind Primary School principal Narelle King, who has already introduced the program at her own school, Mr Romeo decided to implement the program at Harvey Primary School.

He said the program used core ideas to help children better understand difficulties they might face, and gave them the tools to better handle negative experiences such as bullying.

“The social and emotional learning gives students the tools to deal with this sort of thing,” Mr Romeo said.

He said the Hero, Bump, Hazard, and Tools categories provided helpful labels for children to process their experiences and emotions, and to ask for help if they needed it.

“It’s a whole-school language — everyone is on-board,” Mr Romeo said.

“We plan to do parent sessions in the future to support this learning at home.

“These are skills our students will carry through life.”