A team of 20 Dodd Middle School seventh graders took an oath in front of their parents and teachers during the annual swearing-in ceremony for the 2019-2020 school year's Peer Mediation Program. Officiated by the Hon. Joy Watson, the ceremony came after the group successfully completed sixteen hours of training for the organization.
One of the goals for the program is to help student volunteers develop relationships and communication skills that will transcend other areas of their lives.
As peer mediators, they are trained under adult supervision to listen and help their classmates talk out and resolve interpersonal conflicts. Mediators do not take sides or make decisions for their peers; instead, they help them create their own resolutions when confronted with disputes.
The Dodd team is on call to mediate these struggles and they look forward to working together to resolve any disagreements.