Student Wellbeing
Bullying No Way!
This year our school is joining in with other schools across Australia to recognise The National Day against Bullying and Violence, which is where schools take a stand against bullying.
This particular event is a way of focussing attention on the importance of saying ‘No to Bullying!’ in our school and in our community and it will be celebrated on Friday 20 March. Leading up to this day, teachers will be providing lessons and resources for students from ELC to year 12 across the school to remind them that bullying is never ok. We are also fortunate to have headspace Mt Barker staff coming to host a lunchtime hangouts program on Friday 20 March for high school students.
Facts about Bullying
Approx. one in four students in Australia in year 4 to year 9 (27%) report being bullied every few weeks or more.
Frequent school bullying is highest in year 5 (32%) and year 8 (29%).
83% of students who bully online also bully offline
Peers are present as onlookers in 85% of bullying interactions and play a central role in the bullying process.
Definition of Bullying.
Sometimes students and parents are confused between bullying and someone being mean or thoughtless.
Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm. It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power, or perceived power, over one or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening.
Bullying can happen in person or online, via various digital platforms and devices and it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert). Bullying behaviour is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time (for example, through sharing of digital records).
Bullying of any form or for any reason can have immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders. Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying.
As a parent if you would like to find out more about bullying and how to support you child please follow this link.
https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/RespondingToBullying/Parents
If you need advice about a particular situation you can call
Parent Helpline South Australia
08 8303 1660
We are here to help!
The Wellbeing Team at Strathalbyn takes bullying seriously and is here to support students, parents and teachers who may experiencing bullying behaviours. Sometimes we will hear families say – this has been going on for months, and yet no one has spoken to the school leadership or us about a situation. We are here to help or to advise how to get help, but we can’t help if we don’t know. Please help us to help your children by being informed about the facts around bullying, opening up conversations with your children about how to respond to bullying and by giving them support or strategies if they are experiencing bullying or witnessing it as a bystanders(see the attached information).
It is everyone’s responsibility to Say No to Bullying! and if we work together, we can help make our school a safe and supportive environment.
Sue Chapman and Elona Koop
Wellbeing team /School Counsellors