At Our Lady Star of the Sea we aim to create a safe and supportive school community for everyone.  

This Friday 15 March we celebrate the National Day of Action Against Bullying. We are encouraging everyone to wear a touch of orange on the day. This might be a t-shirt, socks, hat or ribbons. If you don’t have anything orange you could bring an orange or a carrot for fruit snack. The children will take part in a Circle Time on the day that focus' on using their Super Power to be an Upstander when they see behaviour that may be inappropriate or support someone who needs a hand.

Parents are an important part of our work to prevent bullying and to respond effectively if it happens.  Stopping bullying involves everyone.

If your child talks to you about bullying:

1. Listen calmly and get the full story. Your calm response is important to allow your child to tell you all about the situation.  After they’ve told you their story, ask questions to get more details if you need: who, what, where, when. Although you may feel some strong emotions about your child’s experience, try to keep calm to avoid more distress to your child.
2. Reassure your child they are not to blame. Many children blame themselves and this may make them feel even worse. You could say things like, ‘That sounds really hard to deal with. No one should have to put up with that.’ or ‘I’m so glad you told me. You should be able to feel safe at school; that’s not fair at all’.
3. Ask your child what they want to do and what they want you to do. A critical part of your response is to avoid jumping in to solve the problem.  While it is natural to want to protect your child, helping them to find their own solution is a better option. It helps them feel they have some power in the situation.
4. Visit www.bullyingnoway.gov.au to find some strategies. The website has tips and ideas for different bullying situations. One idea is to practise strategies at home to help your child feel more confident.
5. Contact the school, firstly via the classroom teacher. Your child may be reluctant for you to do this, so discuss the idea and reassure them that the school would want to know and is able to help. Students are encouraged to use the Student Safety Concern Forms.  Contact the school immediately if you have a concern about your child’s safety.  
6. Check in regularly with your child.  Keep the conversation going. It can take time to resolve issues, so check in regularly with your child about their experiences and their feelings.  Your ongoing support is important.

Thanks for your support to make Our Lady Star of the Sea a great school for everyone.

Paul Anderson

Student Wellbeing Leader