This fortnight we are looking at Bullying

• Be respectful and safe – Bullying
• Being an Upstander NOT a Bystander

Please read through this information and discuss it with your child/children.

What your child should do if they are bullied at school:

Use the High 5​

When they have gone through the High 5 and the person is still bullying, they need to REPORT to a trusted adult straight away.  

What you can do if your child is being bullied:

Schools can be much more effective when parents report bullying and support their efforts to deal with it.

If your child reports that bullying is occurring at school, or the bullying involves students from the school outside of school, you should let the school know the situation.

Working together with the school is the best way to help your child resolve bullying issues.

Schools will work with you to resolve the situation and will also work with the other student's parents. Due to privacy laws, they will not be able to share information about any other students involved.

Tips for contacting the school

Remain calm and focus on being constructive (even if you feel upset).

Prepare by:

• checking your school website for any information regarding their policy or procedures for managing bullying
• making a time to talk with your child's teacher, school counsellor or guidance officer
• writing notes (and any other records) based on what your child has told you so you can be as clear as possible about what happened.

Tips for working with school staff

Continue to be calm and constructive. In the first instance contact your child's teacher if possible.

During meetings with staff:

• refer to your written notes to be as clear as possible about what happened and write notes of the discussions with your child's teacher or other staff
• ask what steps will be taken and if a plan is to be developed with home and school strategies
• recognise that investigating the situation at school will require time
• keep a written record of when you contacted the school, who you have spoken with, and any agreements that were made
• stay in touch with the teacher and let them know if problems continue or something new happens.

If you are unable to achieve a satisfactory solution with the class teacher or counsellor, make an appointment to meet with the deputy principal or the principal.

Being and Upstander Not a Bystander!

Video Links

Parents

The Importance of Upstander Power

Students watched this Video at school

Be an Upstander - Prevent Bullying: A NED Short

What is a BYSTANDER?​

A bystander is someone who is watching the bullying take place. They can influence whether the behaviour continues and can also have long-term effects on the wellbeing of the person being bullied. ​

Someone making an effort to help can have a positive impact on the person being bullied. Most bystanders say that they would assist a person being bullied if they knew what they could do to make a difference. ​

Doing nothing about bullying sends a message to the bully that their behaviour is acceptable.​

A bystander can be a: ​

• reinforcer (laughing, cheering, encouraging) .​
• assistant (actively helping such as by blocking exits) ​
• outsider (silent observation that could be interpreted as approval) ​
• defender (active support for the person being bullied, also called an upstander).​

an upstander).​

What is an UPSTANDER?​

An upstander is someone who chooses to support a person who is being bullied. There are ways you can be an upstander. ​

Encourage your child to be an UPSTANDER!

This is how:

• Don’t laugh​
• Don’t encourage the bully in any way​
• Don’t participate​
• Stay at a safe distance and help the target get away​
• Don’t become an “audience” for the bully​
• Help the victim in any way you can​
• If you notice someone being isolated from others, invite them to join you​
• Include the victim in some of your activities​
• Tell an adult​

Well Done to our Students of the Month for September