Redirecting Children

Dear Saskia, 

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I was lucky enough to attend your recent workshop last Thursday evening. 

I came away very empowered and eager to put into practice some of the techniques and ideas you presented so purchased 5 of your books - I've read them all! 

I really wanted to let you know much your techniques have helped me and my children, already only after a few days. Even though I considered myself to be a good parent, I, like many, raised my voice too frequently. Since Friday I haven't raised my voice at all. I have been able to use some of your suggestions (waiting, hinting, and staying calm) and my two boys (5 and 6) seem all the better for it! I still have stuff to work on but so far so good. 

Tonight I laid on my eldest son's bed when I turned out the light. He's often the one to ask me questions when I've turned off the lights, but some times I've been in a hurry to do all the normal things after the kids go to bed. But tonight I decided not to rush out. I stayed for about 10 minutes and we chatted quietly, intermittently, sometimes saying nothing. It was very beautiful. I told him that this will be our special time together every night and even though I couldn't see him his face lit up! 

We haven't had the chance for the family meeting yet but we will soon. 

In the meantime I just had to thank you for coming to our school, and for giving such an important, meaningful and at times funny insight into parenthood! 

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With kind regards, 

Louise 
 

Thanks Saskia.

 

U made it very easy for us to open up!

Thank you for your time today, it was really positive and encouraging and we have already been putting in place some strategies.

Talk soon.

 

Regards,

Paula

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Your input is of great benefit to the students as well as the teachers including me.

Just wanted to tell you what an asset to our school community you are.

 

Trish 

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Testimonials from students in years 4 and 5 who have participated in the Wrap-Around Program

 

• Thank you so much for all the skills and techniques you have taught me.

• Thank you for giving your time to help us with our problems. You have many amazing talents. I have rounded it down to the one thing that makes you kind. I believe that you are an amazing listener. You allow everyone to speak their opinion and you never judge or speak over us. I believe that is a great trait to have. You have encouraged us to stay positive and to be the best and most kind person that we can possibly be. You are an important part of people's life as you allow people to blow away people's problems and not allow them to get to them. I think you should be very proud of yourself as you have such a kind, considerate and caring heart. Thank you so much again.

• Thank you for solving problems and creating this helpful group to help us.

• Thank you for telling us what’s right and wrong. Thank you for everything.

• Thank you for giving up your time to come and solve our problems. You have been a MAJOR help.

• Thank you for everything.

• Thank you for fixing our problems and giving us a better understanding of how to fix problems between our friends and class mates this term.

• Thank you for fixing all my problems and helping me to be a better person. I’m 100% sure you’ve helped me because my peg hasn’t moved for weeks because of you helping me.

• Thank you for helping me solve my problems and understanding everything I have told you I really appreciate it and we all are going to miss you.

• You make everyone’s problems go away. Thank you very much.

• You helped us solve our problems, you told us how to be better friends and you made our Thursdays a day to look forward to!

• Thank you for coming and teaching us new things. Also thank you for sorting things out in the playground that hadn’t been sorted. We are going to miss you.

• Now when we play handball there is no fights and lots of people hack it in handball.

• Now there will not be so many problems in class, on the playground and in the hall.

• Ever since you came me and my friends are having less fights. Thank you a lot!

• You have been a great help to us because when you came we had some fights but now you have helped us sort everything out.

• Thank you for solving our class problems. Without you our problems would get bigger and bigger.

• Thank you Mrs West for sorting out every problem, without you here there would be a lot of fights and arguments but because you’re here there’s no more problems.

• Thank you Mrs West for your class meeting, everyone loves the class meeting. We all are fixing our problems and everyone is trying hard. Thank you.

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School teacher Samantha Sullivan talks about the class meetings she co-facilitated with Saskia West
and the Wrap-Around Program in her Year 6 classroom for a year:
 

Having worked with Saskia and using class meetings with my year 6 class, I cannot speak highly
enough of the program. The class meetings do take a small amount of time out of the school day but
what is gives back is well worth the time and effort.
We had a small box on my desk where the students put their ideas, complaints, issues, and problems
during the week. This meant that all these small things were discussed during the meeting and were
not constant disruptions to our day-to-day learning. It actually gave the class more learning time
once we had established a routine with the meetings.
I was constantly surprised at how our meetings evolved and the maturity of the students. The time
was fantastic for me as a class teacher to learn more about my students’ social skills and to make
sure that all students were aware of the consequences of their actions. It made the student more
responsible for their actions and handed that responsibility back to them to make the situation right
again. I was also impressed with the students approach to solving problems. They often came up
with very creative, sometimes simple and original solutions that I would never have thought of, but
which all students were very happy with.
At a time when we have a very crowded curriculum and responsibility for duty of care particularly in
regard to bullying and the well-being of our students, class meetings provide a time and safe space for
all students to have a say and know that they are being heard. It also provided me, as their teacher,
an insight into the social climate of my class. I was alerted to issues outside of school that affected
them and I, and my student’s, felt that I really knew and at the very least tried to understand them.
As a pastoral care and restorative justice tool, I believe it has been a priceless experience.
 

Samantha Sullivan.

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Dearest Saskia,

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We would like to sincerely thank you for coming along to our school once again. Your knowledge and presentation style is wonderful and we feel very privileged to have you here.

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OLA North Strathfield

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