4
2019 saw Rustenburg include Dialogue Days and transformation workshops into the school timetable and calendar, as part of our ongoing mission to create a school where all learners belong.
Each term had a theme, which was explored in a whole school assembly and a 90-minute Dialogue Day session. These were often followed up by shorter discussions in the weeks that followed. As part of their orientation programme, the Grade 8s participated in a 90-minute workshop led by three Rustenburg staff members. They engaged with the idea of the “Rustybug� identity; how to make everyone feel included at Rustenburg; how we create our own narratives about people we meet; and the idea of privilege. The first Dialogue Day of the year focused on mental health. This topic was chosen in response to requests from the learners. The Dialogue Day was preceded by an assembly with guest speaker Dr Laura Conley, a psychiatrist. A member of staff and a student also shared their experiences. For Dialogue Day, the learners identified some of the stigmas surrounding mental health and how to break them; and also discussed how to help friends in need.
