Rangeview Primary School
The Rangeview Primary School ‘Peer Mediation
and Bucket Filling’ program introduces a common
language and philosophy around bullying.
Tell us about Rangeview Primary School
Rangeview Primary School is located in Mitcham, a suburb in the outer east of Melbourne. The school
has approximately 570 students ranging from Prep to Grade 6 and representing many cultural
backgrounds.
What is the program?
The program includes a children's book that encourages positive behaviour and teaches children that
showing kindness, respect, and appreciation really makes a difference. While the bucket filling concept
isn't a new one, Carol McCloud's ‘Have you filled a bucket today’ book offers child-friendly explanations
in simple prose and beautiful illustrations.
As a school working towards eSmart status, we wanted to place more focus on general student
wellbeing in a manner that is consistent across the school and involve students in an engaging and
empowering manner. Specifically, we wanted to introduce Bucket Filling across the school, start a Peer
Mediator program and offer education to parents and teachers about bully prevention.
What are the aims of program?
The aims of the program are to:
 Improve student wellbeing and prevent bullying by sharing a common language and philosophy
around Bucket Filling.
 Introduce a Peer Mediator program and equip teachers and parents with knowledge and skills
around bullying prevention.
How was program implemented?
 Conducted the Bully Stoppers survey with children from all year levels.
 Booked the Bully Busters teacher PD and presentation for parents/carers to be held at the school
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(by an outside professional in the field).
 Purchased copies of the Bucket Filling titles to allow all classes to have access to these books
which explicitly teach the concept.
 Bucket Filling resource packs with suggestions for teachers were also provided.
 A one-hour presentation for staff, highlighting responses from student Bully Stoppers survey and
introducing and explaining the Bucket Filling philosophy to staff as part of our plan of action.
 A visit to Blackburn Lake Primary School to witness a successful peer mediator program already in
action.
 Further research and designed a peer mediator training program and created student handbooks,
by drawing on resources from other schools and formal publications as well as consultations with
our school psychologist.
 Presented the concept of peer mediators, the role and expectations to Grade 5s.
 Students indicated their interest in the program and six were selected by teacher and specialist
teacher.
 One day training was dedicated to the peer mediators.
 Peer mediators were met fortnightly and yard duty times arranged to coincide with peer mediator
duty.
 To begin, mediators were on duty Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday lunchtimes.
Has the program been a success?
The project has helped to enhance a positive school culture, extend a common language across the
school and the peer mediator program has provided opportunities for students to fulfill a prestigious role.
Grade 5 teachers have reported that peer mediators are self-driven in fulfilling their responsibilities and
that they are well respected by their peers. We have had many positive responses from teachers about
the Bucket Filling concept, that it is engaging for the children and is a good visual symbol which is
instilling empathy, thoughtfulness and generally more positive perspectives in our students.
What is the future of the program?
We would like to formalise Bucket Filling into our curriculum as part of the 2014 Start Up program,
ensuring that all classes across the school are engaged in the concept.
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Our plan for peer mediators in 2014 is that the six current mediators will continue in their role and these
Grade 6 students will be help to train six Grade 5s so that we have a total of 12 mediators, further
increasing their presence in the playground. We aim to have peer mediators involved in making short
messages about Bucket Filling behaviours in the playground which can be shown at assemblies, lifting
the profile of peer mediators as a prestigious one.
Contact
Nicole Barnes, Grade 4 teacher and ICT Mentor - barnes.nicole.m1@edumail.vic.gov.au
Alex Box, Grade 1 teacher and eSmart Coordinator – box.alexandra.j@edumail.vic.gov.au
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