Especean

Wellbeing

National Day of Action Against Bullying

Approximately one in four Australian high school kids reported experiencing physical, verbal, or cyber-bullying in 2021. Bullying remains a serious epidemic in our country – it is pervasive, widespread, and its effects can often be devastating. However, it is one that we can all work towards eliminating. This Friday 18 March is the annual National Day of Action against Bullying, a day that gives wider school communities a chance to create more positive environments for all. 

 

The theme for this year is Kindness Culture, which can be developed by promoting inclusion, respect and belonging. For each of us, there are many ways that we can contribute to a culture of kindness. It is those small, seemingly insignificant actions that could be the most powerful in making someone’s day. Whether it is inviting a boy to your handball game, helping somebody if they’re struggling in class, or even just getting to know someone better, they all hold great value in developing a wider culture of kindness at our school. 

For each of us, there are many ways that we can contribute to a culture of kindness. It is those small, seemingly insignificant actions that could be the most powerful in making someone’s day.

When choosing to act with goodwill for whoever you come across, an example is also set ‘in speech, and in conduct’ for others to follow. Whether we wear a blue cap or a black tie and leading by example, each of us plays a pivotal role in putting an end to the bullying culture that has plagued schools across the nation for years. 

 

On Friday, we will have posters, banners and balloons around the school that promote the core message of the day. We will also have a variety of homeroom discussions and activities, and each boy is encouraged to get involved. This movement is larger than all of us and can only be successful if we all choose to participate. However, it is important to note that taking effective and meaningful action against bullying cannot be done from Period 1 to Period 5 on one Friday. It is so much more than just tokenism – pledging to do things without actively seeking change. It is about how we collectively continue to work with each other in the days and months ahead to take action against bullying, with Friday serving as a reminder of our responsibility as a community in adhering to the touchstones that guide our College. 

 

Patrick Alphonse

Student Wellbeing Prefect

 

TASS Parent Lounge 

The College has recently added more functions to the new Parent Lounge on TASS. Parents/carers now have the ability to update medical records, address details and other key data for both their son and themselves. 

 

Additionally, parents/carers are now able to see their son’s absences for the term.  We ask parents/carers to login and conduct a quick reconciliation of the absences that have been recorded since the commencement of the 2022 academic year. Please take particular note of any ‘unexplained’ absences that need to be reconciled. 

 

To do so, you simply need to: 

  1. Login to Parent Lounge 
  2. Select ‘Attendance’ from the menu under the Home key 
  3. Select the name of the student you would like to check the attendance.  If you have more than one son at the College, please select the relevant name from the drop-down field at the top. 
  4. A full list of absences will appear on the screen. 
  5. If you wish to print the list of absences use the print button available, which will allow you to print to PDF or view in a new window. 

If you notice that there are any discrepancies with your son’s attendance record, please notify his Homeroom teacher. The upcoming Years 7-11 Interim Reports will display absences for the period Monday 31 January to Friday 18 March. 

Cyber Safety 

One of the greatest challenges as a parent/carer is navigating through the jungle that is purchasing a mobile device and then allowing our children to have social media apps and platforms (I have two teenage children who spend plenty of time on their phones). I recently had the opportunity to read through the material provided by Kirra Pendergast from the Safe on Social Toolkit Team. 

 

She has been able to provide some feedback and advice to common questions asked by parents/carers:  

 

Q: Any tips for when kids should start using Facebook, Instagram, etc? 

A: The minimum age recommendation is 13 years, but kids don’t miraculously mature overnight when they turn 13…..so make a judgment based on their maturity, anxiety etc. Remember you will have no control over what they may be exposed to!  

 

Q: Is confronting parents/carers of kids that show terrible behaviour OK? 

A: No, I would advise against it unless you know them really well. Flag it with the school if the child is at the same school as yours; it can often be a cry for help from the child acting up. Make sure your child does not retaliate in any way and blocks them.  

 

Q: Will the police keep any report confidential in terms of naming who reported it? 

A: Absolutely – you can report anonymously through Crimestoppers.  

 

Q: Any thoughts on Apple vs Android devices from a security perspective? I've heard Android is better for parental control? 

A: They are both very similar. It’s a personal preference.   

 

Q: Are Among Us and Minecraft safe games to use? They have chat, but it seems pretty anonymous, and I don’t think they can’t send photos, etc.? 

A: Depends on the age of the child and the version of Minecraft you are using. Among Us is fairly public so way riskier. You can turn the chat function off. Make sure you have a chat with them if they are younger to speak up if anyone ever asks them to be their boyfriend/girlfriend or tries to move them to another platform i.e., Roblox to Tik Tok.  

 

Q: Once kids are 14 years of age and haven’t had restrictions, how can we then introduce them now? 

A: Remember that you are the parent/carer. Your house, your rules. If you are paying the Wi-Fi bill or their phone bill you get to call it. Easy when they are 14 years of age rather than 16.  

 

Q: A photo was taken of my 13-year-old then airdropped to a number of people then it was shared (by the girl who took the photo) to a Snapchat group. My daughter was so traumatised. What recourse do I have? 

A: If this was at school, this is cyberbullying and should be reported to the principal in the first instance to make sure the bullying is not also happening in the playground. Kids need to know to always ask someone’s permission before they take their photo.  

 

Q: How risky do you feel Snapchat is? 

A: All apps are risky if the user doesn’t know how to use them safely. It depends on the age of the child and making sure that you have our top ten safety tips in place to start! 

National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence  

The National Day of Action (NDA) is Australia’s key bullying prevention initiative, connecting schools and communities to find workable solutions to prevent bullying. 

 

Three key characteristics outlined in the national definition of bullying distinguish bullying behaviours from other forms of peer aggression behaviours which do not constitute bullying. The key characteristics of bullying include: 

  1. power imbalance 
  2. deliberate intent to cause harm, and 
  3. ongoing and repeated behaviour. 

While the following behaviours of peer aggression do not constitute bullying, these behaviours may still be serious and require intervention at home and at school: 

  • arguments and disagreements (where there is no power imbalance) 
  • single acts of social rejection or meanness, or 
  • isolated incidents of aggression, intimidation or violence. 

It is important for our entire school community, including our staff, parents/carers and students to have a clear understanding of the definition of bullying to be able to distinguish these behaviours from peer aggression, and correctly identify and respond to incidents of bullying.  

 

The national definition can be read in the College’s Student Diary. Knowing the types of bullying behaviour can also help you identify if the incident is bullying, or peer aggression. While neither of these behaviours are tolerated at St Patrick’s, they do require different management strategies, and the first step for responding is to correctly identify the behaviour. 

 

If you have concerns that your child is being bullied, please contact the classroom teacher or homeroom teacher in the first instance. Further to that, your son’s Year Coordinator or Director of Junior School can be contacted. You will be referred to the Director of Wellbeing or Deputy Principal if a satisfactory outcome is not achieved. If you believe the behaviour constitutes a crime, or is a serious incident of cyberbullying, please refer to the Bullying. No Way! website for information on how to report to other authorities and gaining further help. 

 

You can read the College’s Statement on Bullyingand ‘Hands Off’ Policy on the College’s website to learn more about our school’s process for managing incidents of bullying. For more information, please visit the Bullying. No Way! website for additional resources. 

 

Robert Simpson

Director of Wellbeing