Empowering Students to Make Things Right
At Oran Park Anglican College, we believe that every child deserves to feel safe, heard, and valued. That’s why we continue to embed restorative teaching practices into our daily routines—an approach that nurtures relationships, builds empathy, and empowers students to take responsibility for their actions.
As Adam Voigt, a leading voice in restorative education, reminds us:
“Restorative practices aren’t about being soft; they’re about being strong enough to do what’s right for kids.”
Restorative teaching is not just about resolving conflict—it’s about proactively creating a culture of respect and connection. It encourages students to reflect on their behaviour, understand its impact on others, and make things right. This approach aligns beautifully with our URSTRONG program, which gives students the language and tools to build healthy friendships and navigate social challenges with confidence.
Together, restorative teaching and URSTRONG help our students:
· Develop emotional literacy and empathy
· Strengthen their sense of belonging
· Learn how to repair relationships when things go wrong
· Grow into kind, resilient, and respectful individuals
We’re proud to be a school that prioritises relationships. When students feel connected, they thrive—not just academically, but socially and emotionally too.
For further information on friendships relating specifically to the issue of conflict that arises from online friendships, School TV published a short article where they interviewed Dana Kerford, founder of the URSTRONG program. You can access this article here:
God bless,
Mr Luke Przydacz
Deputy Head of Junior School – Health and Wellbeing
