Bullying Prevention
Definition of Bullying: "Bullying" is targeted repeated aggression, harassment, threats, or intimidation when one person has greater status or power than other.
Bullying prevention is a part of our School Wide Positive Behaviour approach to teaching expectations and values.
Some key components of our Bullying Prevention are:
- "Bullying" is a behaviour, NOT a trait.
- EXPECT RESPECT teaches students how to respond if someone is NOT being respectful.
- Bullying is maintained by social rewards from other students (bystanders)- Not consequences from adults.
- Bullying will continue as long as it continues to be rewarded- even if we teach appropriate behaviour and punish bullying.
Every Student has been taught very specifically the steps to take if someone is being disrespectful to them:
(1) If a student is being treated disrespectful, the first thing they should do is tell the aggressor to STOP as well as put up the school wide stop sign (their hand).
If the behaviour stops; then the student does not need to do anything further
(no need to seek out an adult)
(2) If the behaviour continues then the student is to WALK AWAY.
If the behaviour stops; then the student does not need to do anything further.
(3) If the behaviour continues then the student is to TALK to an adult immediately.
And what to do if they are asked to STOP.
(1) The first thing they do is stop the behavior.
(2) Then they breathe to help themselves stay calm.
(3) The last step they take is to leave the area and the student alone.
Just as all students have been trained what to do if being treated disrespectful, all staff have been trained on how to handle situations where students are treating others disrespectfully. All teachers know to handle situations the same way so that students know what to expect and there is consistency from one staff member to another.
Every student knows exactly what to expect from an adult if they get to the third step of talk to an adult.
After getting the details of what the situation was between the students the staff member will ask the student two questions:
(1) Did you ask ______________ to stop?
(2) Did you calmly walk away?
If the student did not do either of these two steps the staff member will remind the student of our SWAT (Stop, Walk Away, and Talk) steps and practice the skills with them.
If they did do either of these two steps and the behaviour stopped, they will remind the student that they did the steps and handled the problem on their own and will praise them for this.
If the student does both steps and the behaviour still continues the teacher will address the other student to resolve the problem.
It is very important to us at Upper Ferntree Gully Primary School that all students feel safe and respected at school. We are working hard so all students know the expectations and that there is consistency regarding all behaviours.
Please help us by reinforcing these same steps and expectations at home with your child.
If you have any questions regarding our Bullying Prevention at Upper Ferntree Gully Primary School please feel free to contact your teacher or the Principal.