…..Engaged and resilient students learning in a safe and inclusive environment…..

Last newsletter I spoke about our collaborative development of classroom expectations so that we were explicit about the expectations that need to be present in classrooms for learning to occur.

This week I am going to relate our school vision to our recent student leader induction. We proudly set high expectations for our students who wish to be school leaders. We also are always pleased with the number of students who want to try out for school leadership positions. If students didn’t feel engaged with their school and they felt that by doing different activities or trying new experiences they were unsafe, we would not have the number of students trying to be part of our student leadership team.

Each year our student team meet regularly during their lunchtimes and discuss and organise different activities for their peers to engage in.

I would personally like to thank all our students who have put themselves up for leadership positions and I wish them well throughout the year.

Our 4 school captains- Avery, Ella, Zara and Liam are seen here signing their Captains agreement.

Gold, Silver and Bronze awards

Our students have again commenced receiving recognition for going above and beyond in their classrooms to earn different levels of achievement. Once a child earns a level they are eligible for one of the prizes in that level and they bring this card home to share with you. We also get to personally speak to each child once they have received each level.

Active School Travel

Last week we commenced our walk to school as part of the Council’s Active School Travel program. We would love to see many more students walking to school as part of this program. We meet at the baseball diamond at Paradise Point and leave there at 8am to walk to school. The next walk is this Friday.

All you need to do is to drive your children to the park and we will all walk together back to school. Students go into a draw each term for a great prize with the aim of the program being to encourage active travel to school rather than in cars.

P&C MEETING – Monday 10 March

Our next P&C meeting is on Monday 10 March. This will be our AGM. All positions on the P&C will be declared vacant and a new executive will be voted in. Our school’s P&C does an amazing job across the school and as I mentioned in an earlier newsletter, contributed half of the funds to construct our new $180000 Ninja course.

Our meetings are generally just over 1 hour in duration and the aim of the P&C is to find ways to support the school and its initiatives. It is also heavily invested in the tuckshop and uniform shop, both of which are valuable additions to the efficient provision of services to parents.

I would encourage anyone to consider taking on a role and continuing to add value to our school community.

On behalf of the school I would sincerely like to thank and acknowledge the work the current executive have put in during their time as members . Your support and willingness to be a part of the school and support the school in so many ways is much appreciated and makes a difference for all our students.

Student Led Conferences and Parent teacher interviews

This term we have two opportunities available for parents/guardians to hear what is happening in your child’s classroom and how your child is progressing.

The first is the student led conferences where you will be guided by your child through their learning, they will share goals with you that they have made, show you what work they are doing and how the different information around the classroom helps them with their learning.

An invitation from your child will be sent in the next couple of weeks.

The second opportunity is the formal parent/teacher interview. This will be held in week 9 this term and you will be able to select a time suitable to you through our online booking process. Further information will be provided in future newsletters.

Before and after school process

Please assist your child’s teacher by following our before and after school process of remaining behind the painted red lines until the 8.45 and 3pm bell rings. This helps ensure our teachers are adequately prepared for the day. It is also important to stay away from the rooms in the afternoon as it is often very distracting for the students as they are getting prepared to pack up and leave for the day.

TRIPLE P – PARENTING PROGRAM

We have a number of staff who are trained to offer support to parents and families in parenting ideas through the Triple P Parenting Program.

This program has a wide range of tips for parents if you are struggling to get on top of some of the challenging behaviours displayed in family settings. We have tips for swearing, sibling fighting, mealtimes, setting routines and many more.

If you would like to know more and have a challenging situation at home please see me, Ms Nakanishi (guidance officer) or Ms Coote (school psychologist). Any of us will be happy to help you and offer some support.

Navigating the Bullying Maze – Justin Coulson

A Guide for Parents

Bullying. It’s a word that sends shivers down the spine of any parent. We want our children to feel safe, happy, and accepted, and the thought of them being targeted by hurtful words or actions is deeply upsetting. But the reality is, bullying is a pervasive issue. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, a staggering 70% of Australian children aged 12-13 have experienced bullying, with one in five facing it on a weekly basis.

These statistics are alarming, and they underscore the urgent need for parents to understand the dynamics of bullying and equip their children with the tools to navigate these challenging situations.

What is Bullying, Exactly?

Bullying isn’t just a playground squabble or a one-off disagreement. It’s a pattern of repeated, intentional aggression, where there’s an imbalance of power. It can take many forms:

Physical: Hitting, kicking, shoving, or damaging property.

Verbal: Name-calling, teasing, insults, or threats.

Social: Spreading rumours, excluding someone from a group, or manipulating relationships.

Cyberbullying: Using technology to harass, intimidate, or humiliate someone. This can include sending hurtful messages, posting embarrassing photos or videos online, or spreading rumours through social media.

The Impact of Bullying:

Bullying can have devastating consequences for children’s well-being. Victims of bullying are more likely to experience:

Emotional distress: Anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and feelings of isolation.

Academic difficulties: Poor concentration, decreased motivation, and lower academic achievement.

Physical health problems: Headaches, stomachaches, sleep disturbances, and even self-harm.

Social withdrawal: Difficulty forming and maintaining friendships and a reluctance to participate in social activities.

What to Do if Your Child is Being Bullied:

Listen and validate: Create a safe space for your child to share their experiences without judgement. Let them know you believe them and that you’re there to support them.

Empower, don’t rescue: Resist the urge to immediately intervene and solve the problem for them. Instead, help your child develop strategies for coping with the situation and advocating for themselves. This might involve role-playing different scenarios, brainstorming solutions, or practicing assertive communication.

Document the bullying: Keep a record of the incidents, including dates, times, locations, and any witnesses. This information can be helpful if you need to involve the school or other authorities.

Partner with the school: Work with your child’s teachers and school administrators to address the bullying. Many schools have anti-bullying policies and programs in place.

Build coping skills: Studies show that if a child can avoid overwhelm, process effectively, and maintain a positive mindset (recognising that bullying is bad, but is more about the bully than themselves), they cope better. Trauma is not a result of the events that happen to you. It’s a result of how you process those events. 

Seek professional support: If the bullying is severe or your child is struggling to cope, consider seeking professional help from a therapist or counsellor.

What to Do if Your Child is the Bully:

It can be difficult to accept that your child might be the one causing harm to others. But it’s crucial to address this behaviour promptly and effectively.

Acknowledge the problem: Don’t dismiss or minimise your child’s behaviour, and don’t make excuses for your child. Take their actions seriously and let them know that bullying is unacceptable.

Understand the motivation: Try to understand why your child is engaging in bullying behaviour. Are they seeking attention? Trying to fit in? Coping with their own insecurities?

Teach empathy: Help your child develop empathy by encouraging them to consider the perspective of the person they’re bullying. Ask questions like, “How do you think your words made them feel?”

Set clear consequences: Establish clear consequences for bullying behaviour. This might involve loss of privileges or other appropriate disciplinary measures. It should absolutely involve finding a way to improve relationships with other students, meaningful apologies, and restitution.

Model positive behaviour: Be a role model for kindness, respect, and empathy in your own interactions with others.

Bullying is a complex issue, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. But by staying informed, communicating openly with our children, and partnering with the school, we can create a safer and more supportive environment for all children. Helping children process challenges safely helps them develop an intrinsic capacity to cope—allowing us to then focus on the identification and re-education of those who bully.

Let’s empower our kids to be upstanders, not bystanders, and create a culture of kindness and respect in our schools and communities.