Wellbeing

Bullying Bystanders… Become Upstanders
Bystanders are kids and teens who witness bullying and cyberbullying in action, who stand by and watch, who videotape it and make it viral ... and WHO DO AND SAY NOTHING.
Below is some information from https://www.stompoutbullying.org/. Please spend some time reading through the article with your children about being positive active citizens.
Very often bystanders don’t know what to do. They’re afraid of retaliation or fear that their own group will exclude them for helping an outsider. When you’re a bystander it’s important to know that by doing nothing you are sending a message to the bully that their behaviour is acceptable. It isn’t!And that’s not a message you want to send, nor is it a message you would want someone to send if you were a victim.
Yes, it is scary to directly confront a bully and sometimes it can mean taking a big risk.

STAND UP!
Whether you know the victim or not, there are things that you as a bystander can safely do to support the victim:
Don't laugh
Don't encourage the bully in any way
Don't participate
Stay at a safe distance and help the target get away
Don’t become an "audience" for the bully
Reach out in friendship
Help the victim in any way you can
Support the victim in private
If you notice someone being isolated from others, invite them to join you
Include the victim in some of your activities
Tell an adult
There is strength in numbers. Every school and every community has more caring kids than bullies.
Becoming an Upstander looks like this:
Taking action by telling the bully to stop
Taking action by getting others to stand up to the bully with them
Taking action by helping the victim.
Taking action by shifting the focus and redirecting the bully away from the victim
Taking action by telling an adult who can help
Being an Upstander:
Takes courage - Telling a friend who is bullying to stop is hard. They may be mad at you. But at least you won't feel guilt for being silent and allowing the bullying to continue. And you will be doing your friend a huge favour in the end by helping them stop really hurtful behaviour.
Takes action - Doing something that does not support the bullying can be a really small intervention with big results! Two words - "That's bullying" - can open others eyes to recognize the problem.
Takes assertiveness - Telling a friend how their behaviour makes you feel and how it affects others requires being able to use your voice!
Takes compassion - Upstanders have the gift of compassion. They recognize when someone is hurt and take steps to help.
Takes leadership - Upstanders are leaders in their social group, helping others to recognize ways to get along and be supportive to others.
If you are NOT part of the solution, you ARE part of the problem!
Unite, be empowered and speak out against bullying and cyberbullying!
Be an ally online as well as in person!
Together, you can STOMP Out Bullying – but only if you do something!
When you see someone being bullied and/or cyberbullied and you help them ... you stop being a bystander and become an upstander!
STAND UP for others! Be a Hero! Be a leader and STOMP Out Bullying!
It's up to you ... It's up to all of us! You can change anything you want -- Why not STAND UP and change the way bullies treat their targets! Be kind and be an UPSTANDER! You change the way your peers are treated.

What can I do if my child has an issue at school?

At DCC, the child is at the centre of everything we do. We want everyone at the school to be safe, respected, happy and learning. We have many lessons each week which focusses on teaching children how to behave in different environments and circumstances.

As a school is a place to learn, students will make the wrong choice at times. It is important when these choices occur that we reteach the child with the appropriate behaviour.

If your child expresses that an incident has occurred at school, please notify the teacher and/or leaders in the sub-school.

Leaders:

P/1/2 Team	3/4/5 Team	6/7/8 Team
Malinda Vaughan – Assistant Principal	Brianna Morelli – Assistant Principal	Jess DeBono – Assistant Principal
Ash Haining - Prep	Kyrstie Smith – Grade 3	Millie Carr – Grade 6
Noah Kim – Grade 1	Rhiannon Swallow – Grade 4	Nicholas James – Year 7
Kate DiBattista – Grade 2	Craig Wiese – Grade 5	Anne-Marie Boyd – Year 8
Jess McCourt – Leading Teacher P-2

When your child discusses their concerns with you:

1. **Listen and Validate**: Start by listening to your child. Let them share their experiences and feelings without interruption. Validate their emotions and reassure them that you're there to support them.

2. **Stay Calm**: It's important to remain calm and composed, even if you're feeling upset or angry about the situation. Your child needs your support and guidance.

3. **Empower Your Child**: Help your child understand that they don't have to tolerate disrespectful behaviour. Teach them strategies to assert themselves, such as confidently telling the other child to stop, using body language, or seeking help from a trusted adult.

4. **Encourage Open Communication**: Let your child know that they can always talk to you about what's happening. Keeping the lines of communication open will help you stay informed about the situation.

5. **Contact the School**: Reach out to the school staff, including teachers and leaders. Provide them with details about the incident so as they can follow up with the other child.

6. **Document the Incidents**: Keep a record of all disrespectful incidents, including dates, times, locations, and any witnesses. This documentation can be useful when discussing the situation with us.

7. **Work with the School**: Collaborate with the school to develop a plan to address the unwanted behaviours. This might involve restorative sessions, interventions, increased supervision for your child.

8. **Encourage Peer Support**: Help your child build positive relationships with other students who play in a positive way with them. Identifying play partners is a great way to redirect children to make great choices when choosing someone to play with.

Remember, each situation is unique, and it's important to tailor the approach to your child's needs and the specifics of the unwanted behaviour.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

Kind Regards,

Brianna