STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Our school rejects all forms of bullying behaviours, including online (or cyber) bullying, by maintaining a commitment to providing a safe, inclusive and respectful learning community that promotes student wellbeing.

Our staff are committed to establishing evidence-based approaches and strategies that promote a positive climate where bullying is less likely to occur.

These guidelines reflect the requirements of the Catholic Schools Office (CSO) Student Anti-Bullying Policy and provide information for our school community to work together to prevent and address issues of student bullying.

Types of Bullying Behaviour

Bullying behaviour is complex and can take many forms, including physical, verbal, and social (or relational) bullying. All of these forms of bullying can take place in the physical environment and/or in the digital environment and all can cause damage and harm. Bullying behaviour can be overt (direct and easily observed) or covert (indirect and hidden or less easily observed).

All allegations of bullying are taken seriously to ensure they are followed up thoroughly.

Bullying behaviour is not:

• Children not getting along well
•  A situation of mutual conflict such as teasing or disagreement
• Single episodes of hurtful words or actions, or random acts of aggression or intimidation.

Promoting a Positive School Culture

All members of the school community are active participants in building a welcoming school culture that values diversity and fosters positive relationships. Positive parent engagement and strong and respectful student voice will be actively promoted to create a collaborative, supportive and inclusive school culture. A key component of a supportive school culture is building respectful relationships and an ethos that bullying is not accepted, in both online and offline environments. School staff will actively respond to student bullying behaviour.

GUIDANCE FOR PARENTS AND CARERS

What can parents/carers do?

• Be aware of signs of distress in your child, e.g. unwillingness to attend school, a pattern of illness, missing equipment, requests for extra money, damaged equipment or clothing.
• Inform the school of any cases of suspected bullying even if your child is not directly involved or affected.
• Take an active interest in your child’s social life and acquaintances.
• Assist your child to discuss any incidence of bullying with a teacher. If possible, allow your child to report and deal with the situation. Your child can gain respect and confidence through taking the initiative and dealing with the problem without direct parental involvement.
• If your child is being bullied, discourage any planned retaliation, either physical or verbal, by discussing positive strategies they can use.
• Be positive about your child’s qualities and encourage your child to be tolerant and caring.
• Be willing to attend interviews if your child is involved in an incident of bullying, and work cooperatively with the school.
• Do not deal directly with the other children or their parents/carers but work through and with the school.
• Discuss the school’s expectations about behaviour and how best to deal with bullying.