Concord Connect

Student Wellbeing 

ANTI-BULLYING

 

Concord School is committed to providing a safe and respectful learning environment where bullying will not be tolerated.

 

When responding to bullying behaviour, we aim to:

  • Be proportionate, consistent and responsive
  • Find a constructive and positive solution for everyone
  • Stop the bullying from happening again
  • Restore the relationships between the students involved.

Concord School acknowledges that school staff owe a duty of care to students to take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of reasonably foreseeable harm, which can include harm that may be caused by bullying behaviour.

 

DEFINITION

Bullying occurs when someone, or a group of people, deliberately and repeatedly upset, harass, intimidate, threaten or hurt another person or damage their property, reputation or social acceptance.

There is an imbalance of power in incidents of bullying, where the bully or bullies have more power than the victim due to their age, size, status or other reasons.

Bullying may be direct or indirect, physical or verbal, and includes cyberbullying. 

Bullying is not a one off disagreement between two or more people or a situation of mutual dislike. 

We provide a learning environment where bullying is not accepted and each person has the right to receive respect from others, the right to learn and the right to feel safe and secure.

We have a number of programs and strategies in place to build a positive and inclusive school culture. 

 

At Concord School:

  • We have a positive school environment that provides safety, security and support for students and promotes positive relationships and wellbeing.
  • We strive to build strong partnerships between the school, families and the broader community that means all members work together to ensure the safety of students.
  • Through our School Wide Positive Behaviour Support and Social Competencies programs, teachers incorporate classroom management strategies that discourage bullying and promote positive behaviour.
  • In the classroom, our social competencies curriculum has been designed to teach students what constitutes bullying and how to respond to bullying behaviour assertively.
  • Students are encouraged to look out for each other and to talk to teachers and older peers about any bullying they have experienced or witnessed.
  • We provide a high level of playground supervision to minimise bullying.

REPORTING CONCERNS

Bullying complaints will be taken seriously and responded to sensitively at our school.

Students who may be experiencing bullying behaviour, or students who have witnessed bullying behaviour, are encouraged to report their concerns to school staff as soon as possible. 

In most circumstances, we encourage students to speak to their teacher or team leader. However, students are welcome to discuss their concerns with any trusted member of staff including teachers, wellbeing staff, school councillors and school principals.

Our ability to effectively reduce and eliminate bullying behaviour is greatly affected by students and/or parents and carers reporting concerning behaviour as soon as possible so we can respond promptly. 

 

Concord School will consider:

  • The age and maturity of the students involved
  • Whether the perpetrator understands bullying
  • The severity and frequency of the bullying, and the impact it has had on the victim student
  • Whether the perpetrator student or students have displayed similar behaviour before
  • Whether the bullying took place in a group or one-to-one context
  • Whether the perpetrator demonstrates insight or remorse for their behaviour
  • The alleged motive of the behaviour, including any element of provocation.

Staff may implement all, or some of the following responses to bullying behaviours:

  • Offer counselling support to the victim student or students, including referral to student wellbeing team
  • Offer counselling support to the perpetrator student or students, including referral to student wellbeing team
  • Offer counselling support to affected students, including witnesses and/or friends of the victim student, including referral to student wellbeing team
  • Facilitate a restorative practice meeting with all or some of the students involved.
  • Facilitate a mediation between some or all of the students involved to help to encourage students to take responsibility for their behaviour and explore underlying reasons for conflict or grievance.
  • Implement disciplinary consequences for the perpetrator, which may include removal of privileges, detention, suspension and/or expulsion.
  • Facilitate a Student Support Group meeting and/or Behaviour Support Plan for affected students.
  • Prepare a Safety Plan or Individual Management Plan restricting contact between victim and perpetrator students.
  • Monitor the behaviour of the students involved for an appropriate time and take follow up action if necessary.

Parents or carers who develop concerns that their child is involved in, or has witnessed bullying behaviour at Concord School should contact their team leader or Colin Simpson Assistant Principal of Student Wellbeing.

 

Student Representative Council

Such wonderful ideas have come from the SRC this year:

  • The Koorie  group working on designs for the uniform
  • Brainstorming ideas for the School Values and presenting to the Principal
  • Installation of a new bike rack, located behind Sec 11/12 building
  • Coordinating the ideas for lunchtime clubs
  • Driving and introducing the Sustainability and LGBTQI groups
  • Seeking out options for relocating the Gaga Court and waiting patiently for the relocation process
  • Proposing and establishing new seats around the school. e.g. near the Secondary 7/8 building
  • Having meetings via Webex and in sections to adhere DET COVID-19 guidelines
  • Promoting the installation of an automatic front gate
  • Establishing automatic sanitisers at both campuses
  • Thanking staff by acknowledging their hard work by having a Staff Day
  • Reporting minor maintenance and safety grounds work and ensuring they have been actioned
  • Initiating fundraising for worthy causes

We look forward to projects next year such as:

  • Installation of lockers for Secondary 7/8
  • Updating the art work around the school
  • Contributing to renovations and improvements using the DET funding allocated to Concord School
  • Opening of the Café
  • The Breakfast Club returning

We are so grateful for the students’ contributions and dedication to improvements to Concord School and always ensuring “Student Voice” is present and acted upon. 

Thank you to Kylie Lewin who has attended meetings throughout the year in her role as the School Council Representative and Karen Jordan for all her administration and support for the SRC.

 

Colin Simpson

Assistant Principal

Engagement and Wellbeing