Four Nelson Elementary students were able to add to their peer mediation skills on Thursday, February 18th, when they attended the Peer Mediation Invitational at the Western Justice Center in Pasadena. Judges and professional mediators from across Southern California hosted the event. Nelson School started their peer mediation program this year as a way to help students proactively learn the skills necessary to resolve peer conflicts. Students were selected to participate through a selection process and were given training to effectively work with students during nutrition and lunch recess. Mr. Charles Snyder, a Nelson School instructional assistant with a Master’s Degree in Peer Mediation, wanted to start a peer mediation program at Nelson School this year as a way to utilize his expertise and benefit the students at Nelson School. Principal Marla Duncan was supportive of the idea and helped Mr. Snyder begin the peer mediation program at Nelson School.
“I wanted to be a mediator because I like to help people with their problems,” said Athena Soto, Nelson 6th grader.
Soto was one of three sixth graders who attended the invitational, and who, along with Anthony Beltran, was acknowledged for their advanced mediation skills. The facilitator for the mock mediation scenario was impressed by the skills the Nelson students displayed saying they were given a scenario that should have gone to impasse, but the Nelson students were able to mediate it to a resolution.
The students, and school coach, Mr. Charles Snyder, mingled with Judge Dorothy Nelson, the founder of the Western Justice Center and the first Vietnamese Supreme Court Judge, Jacqueline Nguyen.
Students from 15 schools met at the Justice Center to hone their mediation skills and to share their knowledge with students from other schools. Nelson’s two other team members, Ryan Castillo (6th grade) and Alyssa Elizarraz (4th grade) were on the same mediation team.
Elizarraz, the youngest in the group said she became a mediator because she wanted to prevent bullying at school. When asked what she learned at the invitational: “I learned what to add to my introductions,” said Elizarraz, and that I need to speak louder.” At the conclusion of the event Coach Snyder said he was excited to hear that the Nelson students excelled at the event and that the peer mediation coaches thought highly of their peer mediation skill level.
“I wanted to be a mediator because I like to help people with their problems,” said Athena Soto, Nelson 6th grader.
Soto was one of three sixth graders who attended the invitational, and who, along with Anthony Beltran, was acknowledged for their advanced mediation skills. The facilitator for the mock mediation scenario was impressed by the skills the Nelson students displayed saying they were given a scenario that should have gone to impasse, but the Nelson students were able to mediate it to a resolution.
The students, and school coach, Mr. Charles Snyder, mingled with Judge Dorothy Nelson, the founder of the Western Justice Center and the first Vietnamese Supreme Court Judge, Jacqueline Nguyen.
Students from 15 schools met at the Justice Center to hone their mediation skills and to share their knowledge with students from other schools. Nelson’s two other team members, Ryan Castillo (6th grade) and Alyssa Elizarraz (4th grade) were on the same mediation team.
Elizarraz, the youngest in the group said she became a mediator because she wanted to prevent bullying at school. When asked what she learned at the invitational: “I learned what to add to my introductions,” said Elizarraz, and that I need to speak louder.” At the conclusion of the event Coach Snyder said he was excited to hear that the Nelson students excelled at the event and that the peer mediation coaches thought highly of their peer mediation skill level.