Anti-Bullying Plan for Kanwal Public School - 2023 Anti-Bullying Plan (PDF)
Anti-Bullying Information for Parents - Anti-Bullying Information (PDF 32KB).
Safe Use of Playground Equipment Policy - Safe Playground Equipment (DOC 529KB).
Behaviour Code for students NSW public schools - Behaviour Code (PDF)
NSW Anti-bullying website - Resources and information for schools, parents and carers, and students.
Bullying is defined as repeated and deliberate behaviours such as hurting, threatening or intimidating another person. Bullying takes many forms and includes cyber bullying. Our school considers the following behaviours as examples of bullying:
Verbal:
- Name Calling
- Threatening
- Swearing at others
- Sarcasm
- Ridicule – making fun of another person because of their actions, appearance, physical characteristics or cultural background
- Putdowns
- Insults
Physical:
- Hitting
- Punching
- Kicking
- Scratching
- Tripping
- Spitting
- Shoving
- Pushing
- Taking/damaging others possessions
- Intimidation
Indirect:
- Spreading rumours
- Excluding others
- Writing notes
Cyber-bullying:
- Text messages
- Emails
- Videos
- Photos or posting material on the internet which is designed to humiliate or harass.
Students are encouraged to report bullying behaviour if their attempts to stop it are unsuccessful. Strategies such as telling the teacher on duty or the classroom teacher, informing a trusted friend to report it or speaking with the Deputy Principals or the Principal are all excellent ideas. Parents and carers are also encouraged to report bullying to the school if the student doesn't feel that they are able to.
It is important to remember that bullying is hard to stop if it is not reported. Children may discuss these issues at home and it is important that parents and carers work together with the school. Please do not approach children directly if an issue is occurring. Children often take their cues from adults so it is vital that we, as adults and parents, respond to these situations with the care and support that is needed. The things that we do and the actions that we take are modelled by children.
What to do if you are being bullied – from ‘Take a Stand Together, Bullying, No Way'.
You have a right to feel safe and be safe. If you are being bullied here are some ideas about what you can do.
- Talk to someone about it. Find a trusted friend, teacher or carer who will listen to how you feel, be supportive, and perhaps even help you work out what to do.
- Talk to your friends - they can help you tell a teacher or your parents or just to feel
- Talk to your parents - tell them all about what's been happening.
- Talk to your teacher or another staff member - tell them all about what's been happening. If you don't want to do this in public, make an excuse to see the teacher about something else, for example your homework.
- If you can't talk to someone face-to-face go online at Kids Helpline http://www.kidshelp.com.au/ or call a Kids Helpline counsellor on 1800 55 1800.
Try a few of the strategies that have worked for others. Only try these strategies if you are not in any immediate danger of being physically hurt and you feel confident you can do.
- Ignore the bullying - turn your back and walk away.
- Act unimpressed or pretend you don't care what they say or do to you. You could say 'okay, whatever' and walk away.
- Use strong, assertive statements, starting with the work ‘I'; tell the other person ‘I want you to stop that' in a strong confident voice. Practice this with your friends.
- Use ‘fogging' which means making a joking or funny comment that makes the other person think you don't care about what they say.
- Ask your friends to speak up for you. And remember to do the same for them!
Try to stay positive. Focus on all the things that you do well, the people who like you and care about you. Write down your thoughts and feelings about the bullying to help you think clearly about what you can do.
Hang around with your friends and be with people who help you feel good about yourself. Good friends respect, encourage and support you. They care for your wellbeing and are fun to be around. You'll make new friends by respecting, encouraging and supporting others.
Try to sort out the problem behind the bullying. If you feel safe to do so, talk with the other people involved and ask them how you might be able to sort out the problem together.