Wellbeing

Backflips Against Bullying

Since 2020 we have had the team from Backflips Against Bullying visit the school to present an anti-bullying program to our children. The children remember the visits as they are high energy acrobatic shows with very important messages.

Throughout the show children were asked to reflect on their own behaviours and use empathy when faced with challenging behaviours of others.

The learning included:

Empowering the Bystander
Exit Strategies for the victim
Deliberate Social Exclusion
The Consequences of Retaliation
Whole School Action

Luca and Sophie brought high energy to the multipurpose room, engaging the children with lots of crowd interaction. Some brave children and teachers even volunteered, or were volunteered to assist with the show.

The children were able to relate to the examples performed and recognised the difference between choosing a funny name for yourself, like 'Crazy Frog' and 'Chicken', which were the names Luca and Sophie chose, and calling people names. One they liked, the other they didn't because they were not part of the joke. It's only a game if everyone is having fun.

Not including someone is also a type of bullying, no one wants to be excluded.

Tommy Ward showed us the difference between being a bystander and the power of being an upstander. Thanks Tommy!

As well as the acrobatics, there were moments in the show when time was given for serious thinking and learning. We talked about ways to be a good friend and that it is also ok not to be best friends with everyone. Just giving a smile or asking a question about themselves is one way to be a good friend. Bullying isn't just something that happens at school, it can stay with a person and that pain can change the way your brain works. You can feel like a different person when you keep sadness and pain inside.

But it only takes one person to make a difference and we all have the power to make someone feel better. Please ask your children about the messages from the show, we were very impressed with the empathic way in which the children responded to the questions asked by Luca snd Sophie.

The Backflips Against Bullying program is one way in which we empower children at our school. Did you know that as part of our Getting Ready to Learn routine all classes engage in conversations and reflections on our Ways of Working. We create opportunities for children to voice their worries and work through wellbeing strategies to support them. Children are supported to self-monitor their feelings and emotions through tools such as a 'battery' check-in. We look forward to sharing some of our strategies with you in future newsletters as we aim to work in partnership with families.

Kellie McDonald

Wellbeing Leader