We Can Work It Out

Peer Mediators at Murch are role models and leaders of the school community. Selected through an application process, these specially trained fifth graders mediate non-physical conflicts that occur on the playground and in the classrooms. 

Every day, several peer mediators are stationed around the playground and blue top for both the lower grades’ recess and the upper grades’ recess as well as in individual classrooms during indoor recess. These students also lead mediations of conflicts that arise in the classroom and are referred to the mediators by a teacher.

All peer mediators go through a 10-12-hour training, conducted by professionals, before they assume their responsibilities. The program trains mediators to undertake abbreviated mediations on the playground where the conflicts are occurring and to lead full mediations, in a confidential, private place, when conflicts cannot be resolved on the playground. The program’s advisors meets weekly with all peer mediators to discuss problems, frustrations and update skills.

In 2010, the peer mediators worked with the Student Council to raise more than $3,000 for Save the Children’s earthquake relief in Haiti.

2010-2011 Peer Mediators

Leif Aiken     
Leoniya Aksyonov    
Leo Canty     
Anna Conley       
You Hwa Mungai       
Deris Reina-Flores    
Ashtin Richards    
Aidan Saccocio 
Nicholas Schneider
Rebecca Simon
Grace Stohr
Hanna Timm
Ella Weiner 
Anna Wilson
Jonah Winchell

Peer Mediator advisors: fifth-grade teacher Vicki Otten and counselor Lauren Miller.

For more information about how peer mediation works, read this story from the Student Blog: You've Got a Friend.