Holmemead Middle School

Tue May 21 2013

Big Buddy Badge Hello and welcome to the Big Buddy page on the Holmemead website. Who are the Big Buddies? They are people who help our students get on at school and make their time more pleasureable. They are: Emily Danson, Luke Hanney, Amelia Kirk, Georgina Thompson, Sophie Ingrey, Harry Thornton, Joshua Ellis, Emma Houldsworth and Eloise Norton. Of course, someone has to keep an eye on them, and that person is Christine Gilbert. She keeps an eye on anything going on in school and gives advice to anyone who is in trouble or seeking help.

If you are wondering where we are based within the school grounds, it is near the back of the Berkeley block and the stairs leading into the Rose Lane block. If you turn right shortly before entering Rose Lane, you should find the room by entering the first door on your right side. We are also situated around school so we should be easy to find. If there is no one in the room, don't take advantage by simply using it as a hiding place, it is only used if you have a problem or for our meetings at Friday lunchtimes. If there are no Big Buddies in the room, we can be seen outside, or in clubs.

If you are thinking that we just got the badges by default, you must think again. We have to go on a five week training course which made us spend time after school with assistance from staff at Manor Farm, a place which helps people to cope with moving up to upper schools such as Stratton Upper School. We also have regular meetings at Friday lunchtimes. At the end of the school year, we decide on which Year 7 students should be the next Big Buddies when the current ones leave. We interview the students that could be potentially chosen by spending time with them answering questions on why they should be a Big Buddy, for example. If they have the promises to become a Big Buddy, a sheet is given to them confirming them as a Big Buddy, and the process starts again.

There are a set of golden rules that you should follow. Our Big Buddy Golden Rules are:

What you tell me is between us but....

There may be some things I can't keep a secret and I may have to tell an adult.

If I feel that I can't keep it a secret I will tell you.