Carrie Thomas – Acting Deputy Head of Primary

The Friendology program

The Friendology program is an award-winning friendship program that empowers students to establish and maintain healthy relationships, manage conflict with kindness, and increase their overall resilience. Many Emanuel students have participated in this program, and it is also the source of a common language shared by teachers.

Disagreements are referred to as ‘friendship fires’, which are normal, low-level conflicts that exist in friendships. Hurt feelings, misunderstandings, disagreements…these negative feelings that sometimes arise because we are different people with differing opinions. Students are taught strategies on how to put friendship fires out. They are also taught how to recognise what is normal in a friendship, how to determine healthy and unhealthy relationships, and how to distinguish a friendship fire from ‘mean on purpose’ behaviour. 

Friendology is currently offering free membership to families. Families can access a wide range of resources to help you and your child develop skills and language to foster healthy, feel-good friendships through this resource. Between articles, videos, and activities, there are hundreds of resources that families can access at home to support the friendship skills your child is learning at school. 

Some of my favourite resources available are:

• Afternoon Convo Starters
• Interactive Friendship Fire or Mean on Purpose Advice
• What is forgiveness?
• How to say “No”
• Your child’s emotional piggy bank 
• Cyberbullying and Friendship Fires in a Digital World 

Through the resources available, you can learn how to become a ‘friendship coach’, encouraging and empowering your child to make healthier decisions in their friendships and how to resolve conflict in a respectful way.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Please save the dates for Parent Teacher Night – Monday 28 March and Wednesday 30 March. Booking information will be sent via email.