Anti-Bullying
Dear Parents and Carers,
As discussed in our previous newsletter our students participated in a session in Learning Mentor to acknowledge and reflect on The National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence which is on Friday 19th of March. Ballarat High School has joined the nationwide movement with schools across Australia to take action together to say ‘Bullying. No Way!’
Students received a presentation on bulling, its impact, how to be an ‘upstander’ and who to speak with should they witness or be subject to unwanted behaviours.
The session also involved participation in a “helping hands activity” which involved making a personal pledge to stand against bullying. Senior student leaders attended the session and facilitated the workshop with year 7 students. Pictured are Demi Thompson, Alana Bodey and Keeley Smith.
Our students amazed me with their passion and enthusiasm to show kindness and respect to others. Some of the pledges made included:
“Be a voice. Not an echo”
“Blowing out someone’s candle doesn’t make yours shine brighter”.
“Be strong and speak up even if your voice shakes because you matter!”
“I pledge to STAND UP and take POSITIVE actions to UPSTAND against BULLYING”.
Keep an eye out for the article in the Ballarat Times and feel free to call in to the school library to see all the upstander pledges on display!
Kind regards,
Shannon Thompson
Psychologist / Mental Health Practitioner
Ballarat High School