Wellbeing News

Week of action against Bullying 

Next week is the National Week of Action Against Bullying.  

The theme for 2025 is 'Be bold. Be kind. Speak up.'

It takes courage to spark change.

Bullying is everyone's responsibility. It takes a community to be brave and address bullying behaviours, within and beyond the school gate.

Students can be bold, kind and take a stand to support others being bullied, while parents and teachers are there to support children and young people learn how to behave in a positive way.

In our community and in our school, we want a place where everyone can belong, a place that celebrates everyone, and where bullying is never accepted.

This Bullying No Way Week, we're asking students, schools, families and communities to be bold and say something, be kind and support someone, and be proud to take a stand against bullying.

During the week we ask children to wear a touch of orange on any day, or every day, and next Friday 15th August wear as much orange as possible! (please refrain from coloured hair spray or face paint).

We will also be looking for acts of kindness in our school community.  Watch out for our special tribute wall that will be displayed in the quadrangle throughout the week.  Parents, you may like to add to this wall too!

We also finish the week with the P&F supporting this cause with a special food day.  Please see detials published through Audiri order through CDF.

Bullying Surveys 

Late last term, all present students completed our termly school bullying survey.  The children are asked to answer the following three questions-

I have been bullied by someone at Holy Family this term- yes/no

I have seen someone be bullied this term- yes/no

I have seen a student show kindness to someone in need this term- yes/no

From the initial survey results, all students who answered yes to the first two statements are interviewed to determine the extent of the bullying.  

Each term we see a trend of reported incidents that are a 'one off' incident which is not classified as bullying, but those that were repeated behaviours by certain children have being followed up by classroom teachers or a member of leadership.  It was great to hear that all students were able to use a strategy they knew to remove themself from the situation.

Overall data from these interviews have determined that 6% of our students experienced bullying, either directly 4% saw a form of bullying toward another student.  

We continually strive to teach our students about how to interact positively with others, and strategies that can be used if they experience any difficulties when interacting with others.

On a positive note, 85% of our students have witnessed someone showing kindness to another student last term.

We continue to direct our Year 3-6 students to use our online Student Bullying Report link to report any incidents of Bullying that occur, and for our Prep-2 students to report any incidents to their classroom teacher or myself.

Holy Family School Expectations

We continue to focus on our school expectations each week and these are presented by our student leaders at weekly class meetings.  

Eithne King

Wellbeing Leader