Mentor programme teaches with role play

Taylin Mybergh and Olivia Patchett in action. PHOTOS/STUART MUNRO

Wanganui Girls' College Year 9 students presented a series of short role-playing exercises to demonstrate the values of the Astra programme at the school.

The mentoring programme aims to promote five core values of achievement, safety, growth, respect and support for one another.

Every school staff member, including the principal, is an Astra mentor, and students participate in a 25-minute group session each week in groups of up to 13 students.

Acting deputy principal Wilma Davis said the programme has been a huge success and NCEA achievement has been consistently above 90 per cent since it was introduced.

"If a student struggles with reading or maths, we teach them, but if they don't know how to behave ... we punish them.

The Astra values are embedded in every aspect of the life of the school - they reflect the heart of who we are."

Astra is the acronym for the core values of Wanganui Girls' College.

Each of the scenarios performed by students last week demonstrated one of the core values and how they may be applied in true life situations.

Sunny Solomon was cast as a bully in her group production and says she felt uncomfortable in the role.

"It was quite scary because it felt wrong to be like that, but my team was very encouraging and that helped me get through it."

Gabrielle Kemp portrayed a student extending the hand of friendship and being rejected and found it quite difficult.

"I did feel a bit hurt, even though we were acting" she said.

Students agreed that the performances were a good opportunity to bond with other students from different Astra groups and get to know each other.