Anti-Bullying Policy

Rationale

The purpose of this policy is to promote consistency of approach and to create a climate in which all children are valued and feel safe.

Holy Family’s Position

In Holy Family School every person has a right to feel safe. Any person who bullies another is denying them that right. The school will not tolerate any action that undermines a person’s right to feel safe, and it will take whatever steps are necessary to stop such behaviour.

Aims

• To promote a secure and happy environment free from threat, harassment and put-down behaviour and where Christian values and attitudes are nurtured.
• To show commitment to overcoming bullying by practising zero tolerance.
  

What is bullying?

Bullying is an act that causes hurt or fear in another person. It may be deliberate or a result of thoughtlessness. It may be a physical attack on the person or their property. It may be verbal teasing or insulting. It may be indirect such as spreading rumours, excluding people from groups or manipulation of others to mistreat another student.

Definition
Bullying Behaviours are about an imbalance of power where there is a deliberate intent to cause harm or distress. These behaviours can be verbal, social, psychological or physical. They impact on the lives of the person/people being bullied, those doing the bullying and those looking on. Bullying incidents can be isolated or repeated. (The Peer Support Foundation, 1998).

How do we prevent bullying at Holy Family Catholic School?

Ultimately, strategies to prevent bullying will only be effective when placed within the context of a culture in which respect for others is consistently taught and demonstrated across all facets of school life. The Christian values, which represent the antithesis of bullying, must be continually affirmed in words and actions.

Strategies to prevent bullying will fall within the following broad categories:

• ‘moral education’ in the context of religious education, liturgies and assemblies where the value of the individual is affirmed and the importance of qualities such as compassion, kindness, reconciliation, tolerance, respect and justice are encouraged.
• ‘across the curriculum’ values teaching (eg looking at the problem of prejudice within the context of a novel or a history lesson)
• clear statements from staff about the nature and unacceptability of bullying
• teaching specifically related to bullying in the PDHPE curriculum
• teaching more positive ways of resolving conflict, such as working co-operatively within the classroom and playground
• staff and students as role models, particularly those in leadership roles such as peer support, school captains, house captains etc.
• provision of activities which develop a culture of caring for one another and acknowledging the worth and contribution of others and which help to develop compassion
• appropriate provision of counselling or other support services
• provision of support for parents through information seminars, support networks etc
  

The Role of Teachers:

• Act as role models of caring and tolerant behaviour
• Listen to reports of bullying
• Protect the victim from further harm
• Act to stop the behaviour recurring
• Raising awareness through the curriculum

The Role of Students:

• Students who are being bullied must speak to their teacher and give him/her full details of the event
• Students who witness the bullying will intervene if they are able or immediately seek teacher assistance if they can’t intervene

The Role of Parents:

Parents play a key role in the support of both the victims and the perpetrators of bullying. The school must work in partnership with parents in the disciplinary process. Parents can assist in the following ways:

• Let your child know that bullying in any form is never acceptable. Listen to your child and take their feelings and fears seriously.
• Make sure your child knows that being bullied in not their fault.
• Avoid calling your child names, like “weak, sook, wuss”. Don’t tell them “not to worry, to forget it, to toughen up.”
• Avoid bullying tactics around your child, so they don’t get mixed messages.
• If the bullying is verbal, help your child develop the skills to ignore it so that the bully does not get the satisfaction of a reaction. Practice the way to walk past looking confident with head up. Practice a supply of quick (not insulting) responses – for example ‘that’s your opinion’, ‘talk to someone who cares’.
• Avoid the urge to take everything into your own hands unless absolutely necessary, as this will make your child feel less in control.
• Help your child feel good about the other things in his life. Feed their self-esteem.
• When it is clear that your own child is the bully, recognise the seriousness of the issue and support the school in implementing this policy.

Action:

• The school will keep adequate records of all bullying incidents (refer to Report of a Bullying Incident).
• The school will work with the parents of the victim to assist their son/daughter to avoid being bullied in the future.
• The school will initially assist the bully to change his/her behaviour.
• The "No Blame" program will be a starting point.
• Resistance to behaviour change and repeated offending will lead to consequences ranging from detention to missing out on special events (e.g. excursions).
• The school will work with the parents of the bully to establish joint strategies for behaviour modification.

Holy Family Catholic Primary School is committed to continually reviewing it's policies and practices in respect of bullying and
harassment. Incidents of bully or harassment may be reported online, click on the button below. A staff member will contact you regarding this matter within 48 hours.

Evaluation
Policy Date: February 2001
Formulated by: All staff
To be Reviewed: End of 2004