Proactive and preventative programs
Dear Parents and Carers,
Last week, it was Bullying No Way - National week of action. Bullying No Way Week is Australia’s key bullying prevention initiative and connects schools and communities to find workable solutions to prevent bullying. The theme 'Everyone belongs' aligns with our whole school values and programs such as Expect Respect.
"When we all feel like we belong, bullying struggles to find a place. It's about embracing who we are, respecting everyone's differences and standing up together against unkindness. Belonging means we all have a role in preventing bullying. We're encouraged to speak up and create a safe place where everyone feels supported and respected, and our voices are heard and valued."
https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/preventing-bullying/national-week-of-action
This Wednesday, our grades 3 to 6 students will engage in workshops with Project Rocket facilitators. There is no cost to families for this important incursion. Project Rocket is one of our anti-bullying, proactive and preventative strategies. We are looking forward to sharing student feedback about the event in our next newsletter edition.
At MPS, we have multiple proactive and preventative anti-bullying strategies that aim to create a safe, respectful and positive school culture:
Mackellar's Expect Respect program teaches students social responsibilities to ensure that they are very clear about the expectations at our school around respect, as well as how to respond if they feel that they are not treated with respect.
The Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships curriculum where students learn about positive, inclusive and respectful relationships.
Acceptable Use Agreement for safety and appropriate behaviour when using technology (sent home to be shared with parents in Term 1), and revisited throughout the year.
Teaching and learning of our school values with specific lessons about how to be respectful in multiple indoor and outdoor settings.
Visual displays relating directly to the Expect Respect social responsibilities that students learn about (across all classrooms and specialist areas).
Project Rocket Workshops for all Grades 3 to 6 students.
Online webinars for students in relation to respectful behaviour and online safety.
Specific lessons provided by eSafety Commissioner.
Incursions for middle to upper grades from the Policing Unit (an incursion this week for grades 4 to 6) around online safety, including bullying and what to do if students feel unsafe.
Days of significance that promote equality and respecting others, such as: Bullying No Way, National Week of Action, Safer Internet Day and Harmony Day.
Students are acknowledged for positive, respectful behaviour through our Buzz Award system.
Student agency is highly important in the way of empowering students to use their voice, express their ideas and opinions, and believe that they are leaders of themselves. Students are taught how to seek protection if they need it, and also how to be an upstander and offer support to others (including helping others to speak to a teacher if they feel disrespected or unsafe).
Mackellar's Bullying Prevention Policy is located on our website under the Child Safe Standards, along with multiple related policies
https://mackellarps.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Bullying-Prevention-Policy-1.pdf
If you would like to know more about the Expect Respect program please feel free to reach out and speak to Simon McGlade, Kylie Kennedy or Joanne Wood.
Term 3 Clubs