Establishing and Maintaining relationships
Starting high school is a daunting experience and many young people worry about having to make new friends and get used to new teachers. Below we provide you with helpful information and strategies for establishing and maintaining relationships with peers, parents and teachers as you move into high school. You will be used to only having one or two teachers every year at primary school, however once you start high school you will most likely have a different teacher for every subject! You will also have to get used to having different peers in each of your classes as everyone selects different subjects and there are usually more students in one grade at highschool than primary school. Students that have difficulty connecting with people at high school are at risk of becoming overwhelmed by the new expectations and requirements of high school. MindMatters (2005) identifies establishing and maintaining respectful relationships as a good strategy for coping with difficult situations. Establishing and maintaining respectful relationships will allow you to seek assistance and receive support from peers, family and school staff.
Peer Relationships and making friends
You may be lucky enough to go to the same high school as your friends from primary school or you may be going to a completely new school where you don't know anyone. Either way you will have an opportunity to meet new people and make new friends once you start high school. Some people may find it easier to make friends than others' however there are some common strategies that you can use to make new friends at high school.
Visit the following link:
Making Friends: http://www.kidshelp.com.au/teens/get-info/hot-topics/making-friends.php
Activity 1: Write a reflection of how you have made friends in the past. What did you do? What did they do? Why did you become friends?
Activity 2: After reading the information from the link, make a list of strategies that you will use to make friends at high school.
Visit the following link:
Making Friends: http://www.kidshelp.com.au/teens/get-info/hot-topics/making-friends.php
Activity 1: Write a reflection of how you have made friends in the past. What did you do? What did they do? Why did you become friends?
Activity 2: After reading the information from the link, make a list of strategies that you will use to make friends at high school.
Bullying
Maintaining friendships also involves caring about others. Unfortunately you or your friends may become a victim to bullying at high school. It is important that if you or someone that you know is being bullied that you seek help immediately. The following website provides information on bullying and the steps to take if you or someone you know is being bullied.
Bullying no way! http://bullyingnoway.gov.au/
Bullying can also happen over the internet. Sometimes bullying over the internet may not be intentional as people may misinterpret what you are saying. Therefore you should always re-read your messages before sending them and make sure that they are clear. The following website provides information about maintaining safe and respectful relationships with others on the internet.
Cybersmart: http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/
Activity 3: Use the websites to answer the following questions:
Activity 4: Take the cybersmart quiz and answer the appropriate questions http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/Home/Kids/Have%20Fun/How%20cybersmart%20are%20you.aspx
Bullying no way! http://bullyingnoway.gov.au/
Bullying can also happen over the internet. Sometimes bullying over the internet may not be intentional as people may misinterpret what you are saying. Therefore you should always re-read your messages before sending them and make sure that they are clear. The following website provides information about maintaining safe and respectful relationships with others on the internet.
Cybersmart: http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/
Activity 3: Use the websites to answer the following questions:
- What do you do if you are being bullied?
- What do you do if your friend or someone you know is being bullied?
Activity 4: Take the cybersmart quiz and answer the appropriate questions http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/Home/Kids/Have%20Fun/How%20cybersmart%20are%20you.aspx
- How cybersmart were you?
- What did you learn about cybersafety?
Family relationships
Starting high school can be an overwhelming experience for some students. It is important to talk to your family if you are having difficulty at school, even if it is something small. Your family will be able to give you advice, support you and contact the school if necessary. Sometimes you may get frustrated or upset with your parents and caregivers or you may be too scared to talk to them about certain things.
The following websites give tips on how to get along with and talk to your parents and family:
Talking with your parents: http://www.kidshelp.com.au/teens/get-info/hot-topics/talking-with-your-parents.php
Getting along with your parents: http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetailsKids.aspx?p=335&np=282&id=2535
Activity 5: Explain what you will do to maintain a respectful relationship with your family?
- Communication
- Togetherness
- Sharing activities
- Affection
- Support
- Acceptance
- Commitment
- Resilience (Kids Matter, n.d., p. 2)
The following websites give tips on how to get along with and talk to your parents and family:
Talking with your parents: http://www.kidshelp.com.au/teens/get-info/hot-topics/talking-with-your-parents.php
Getting along with your parents: http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetailsKids.aspx?p=335&np=282&id=2535
Activity 5: Explain what you will do to maintain a respectful relationship with your family?
References
Kids Matter (n.d.) The building blocks of family relationships, retrieved from http://www.kidsmatter.edu.au/sites/default/files/public/KMECC3-201208-Building%20blocks%20healthy%20family%20relationships.pdf
MindMatters. (2005). School matters: Mapping and managing mental health in schools, retrieved from http://www.mindmatters.edu.au/docs/default-source/resources-archive/school-matters
Page developed by Katelyn Carter
MindMatters. (2005). School matters: Mapping and managing mental health in schools, retrieved from http://www.mindmatters.edu.au/docs/default-source/resources-archive/school-matters
Page developed by Katelyn Carter