Leumeah High believes...
We all have the right to learn in a safe and supportive school environment that values diversity. Leumeah High School is committed to creating an environment free from bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence, enabling students to achieve success, socially as well as academically. We all have the right to be treated with fairness and dignity. The community of Leumeah high School will not tolerate any from of bullying.
What is bullying?
Bullying is repeated verbal, physical, social or psychological behaviour that is harmful and involves the misuse of power by an individual or group towards one or more persons. Cyberbullying refers to bullying through information and communication technologies.
Bullying can involve humiliation, domination, intimidation, victimisation and all forms of harassment. Bullying of any form or for any reason can have long-term effects on those involved including bystanders.
Bullying can take several forms:
* Verbal bullying includes name-calling, put-downs, teasing and threats. It may be written in letters, emails or SMS, and can take the form of sexual harassment or innuendo.
* Physical bullying includes punching, hitting, kicking, tripping and pushing. It may involve sexual assault, including unwanted ‘touching’.
* Social bullying includes being excluded, alienated and ignored, and spreading rumours.
* Psychological bullying includes dirty looks, stalking, manipulation, intimidation, and extortion, inappropriate use of camera phones.
How can bullying be reported?
Anyone who knows about an incident of bullying should report it to a teacher. You can tell a teacher directly or you can write a note or even send an email!
Parents can also contact the school to report incidents of bullying.
Teachers at Leumeah High School agree that bullying behaviour is NOT acceptable and all reports of bullying will be taken seriously.
What can I do to stop bullying behaviours?
Everyone has a role to play in preventing or stopping bullying. All students are expected to do the following things to help stop bullying:
* Follow PRAC! Respect yourself, your classmates and their right to learn.
* Support your peers - if you see someone being bullied then you are a bystander and you have a responsibility to help the person being bullied using responsible bystander behaviour.
* Report bullying to a teacher or parent.
What happens after it is reported?
The teacher who receives the report will investigate the incident, recording information about what happened and who was involved. If the incident can be resolved quickly and simply then the teacher will address it straight away and will record the details of the incident on the school database.
If the incident is more complex or serious then the teacher will record their investigation on the school database before referring the incident to the Head Teacher or the Year Adviser.
Once an incident has been referred to a Head Teacher or Year Advisor, one of these teachers will work with all of the students involved using one or more of the school’s resolution strategies:
Some helpful sites
* Peer mediation
* Teacher-Ied mediation
* Restorative Practices
* Counselling
* Method of Shared concern
* Disciplinary action
Things that a Positive Bystander can choose to do to stop or prevent bullying:
Kids helpline 1800 551 800
Lifeline 131 114
Youth Line 02 9951 5522 or 02 9633 3666
Parent Line 132 055
www.friendlyschools.com.au/students/help.php