Reading, writing, arithmetic, and how to make friends and influence people: all in a day’s learning at St Michael’s Catholic Primary school in Sydney’s Lane Cove. The school’s Friendology program teaches kids how to make friends and how to put out “friendship fires”, important skills they’ll carry into adulthood.
Parents and teachers say the children’s social and emotional wellbeing is enhanced, they are performing better academically, and they are more likely to make smarter decisions in future relationships. Based on URSTRONG, an internationally recognised friendship program, Friendology empowers students in grades 1 to 6 with the skills, language, and self-confidence to be better friends and develop healthier relationships.