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Roots of Empathy
The Roots of Empathy programme was introduced to Kaharoa School in 2010 and runs in a number of Rotorua schools.
Roots of Empathy is a classroom programme that has shown significant and lasting effect in reducing levels of aggression among school children by raising social and emotional competence and increasing empathy.
Through this programme children are better able to relate to each other and express how they feel; understand the power and influence of the parent/child bond and how the baby learns and develops; understand that we are all different, we learn at different rates, we have different temperaments and how we are all unique; understand the responsibilities of parenting, how to hold and care for a baby and the negative effects alcohol and drugs can have on a baby’s development.
All of our community benefits from the delivery of this programme - caring classrooms, reduced aggression, reduced bullying, empathetic citizens, caring civil citizens, reduction in child abuse and reduction in teen pregnancies.
In 2022 we are running this programme with our Year 7 students.
Our Roots of Empathy family this year are parents, Charlotte Hamilton and Todd Scanlon, our teacher, Baby Isla and her big sister, Maddy (who is in Room Rata).
A huge thank you and a very warm welcome to the Scanlon/Hamilton family who are choosing to share Isla’s first year with us.
Our trained instructor is Michelle Marino.
This programme is now in its 12th year at Kaharoa School.
Often new families whose babies take part in the programme are introduced into our school and build relationships with the school as potential future parents.