This video provides an introduction to becoming a peer mediator in the Cool Schools peer mediation system in New Zealand. Two peer mediators from Stanhope Road School guide us through the steps of becoming a mediator and what is involved. Included are tips on active listening from a peer mediation training and an example of a peer mediation in action. It was produced and directed by Rachael Bigelow, a 3rd year student at AUT studying a Bachelor of Communication, majoring in television.

A peer mediator training video used by Mediator Mentors in Fresno. It illustrates a sample playground mediation with coaching feedback and a few mnemonics to help remember key ideas.

Restorative Justice processes are being implemented across many schools in Fairfax County, VA. This video looks at the process at Mountain View Alternative High School after one year of implementation.

Educators are getting involved with the Global Truce 2012 Campaign. Peace One Day led the initiative to establish the first ever annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence, unanimously adopted by United Nations member states as 21 September – Peace Day. You may also know that we then proved that the day could work in areas of conflict, most notably in Afghanistan, where Peace Day agreements have led to the vaccination against polio of 4.5 million children in recent years. We are grateful to UNICEF, WHO, UNAMA and other UN agencies for making it a great success. On Peace Day 2008 the UN Department for Safety and Security announced a 70% reduction in violent incidents in Afghanistan.

These successes and many others led Jeremy Gilley to launch the Global Truce 2012 campaign: what we hope will be the largest reduction of violence on one day – Peace Day 21 September 2012 – a world record; and the largest ever gathering of individuals in the name of peace. Schools can sign up to the Global Truce 2012 Schools’ Network to register your school’s commitment to taking action on Peace Day. Many schools are using the free 32-minute film The Day After Peace as part of their programming.

Bystanders are present in the majority of student-student bullying situations. Often, bystanders who witness bullying feel unsafe themselves, and don’t know how to stop the bullying and help the victim. However, bystanders can be taught a variety of “upstander” skills, so that they can safely interrupt bullying and create a peer culture of respect. Participants in this international webinar hosted by the Inter-American Teacher Education Network received instruction in how to teach and reinforce ten “upstander” strategies to students, ages 5-18.
The presenter is Christa M. Tinari, MA, a Safe Schools Specialist and a champion of whole-child education. A former Student Assistance Counselor, she has been training children and adults in the skills of peacemaking, for over 15 years. Ms. Tinari is founder of PeacePraxis Educational Services.

The S.T.A.R. strategy (Stop, Think, Act, Reflect), is a developmentally appropriate problem-solving strategy that:
1) helps students learn and practice critical social-emotional and conflict resolution skills
2) helps teachers and students resolve real problems
3) holds students accountable for their behavior
Participants in this international webinar hosted by the Inter-American Teacher Education Network learned how to teach S.T.A.R. to students, ages 5-14, and how to implement S.T.A.R. in the classroom and school-wide.
The presenter is Christa M. Tinari, MA, a Safe Schools Specialist and a champion of whole-child education. A former Student Assistance Counselor, she has been training children and adults in the skills of peacemaking, for over 15 years. Ms. Tinari is founder of PeacePraxis Educational Services.