Survey Request

As we seek to continue making improvements to our school, we utilise different approaches including surveys. We are members of a world-wide network of Christian schools called the Association of Christian Schools International, based in Colorado Springs, USA. They have developed an instrument called the Flourishing School Culture Instrument which utilises research done over some years on what constitutes a flourishing school.

I am inviting you to participate with us in undertaking this survey to help us identify areas of strength and areas for improvement. Follow this link to an explanatory letter and follow the highlighted link in it to do the survey.

Bullying

Last week I wrote about the challenge of bullying in our society and school. In thinking some more about this issue, I came across someone talking about how often a bully is covering up their own insecurities and fears by being aggressive. I think we all recognise this is often the case. Sometimes too, students will bully or be unkind to another who is desperate to join their group. Belonging to a group is very important to teenagers in particular, but also to all children. If the group does not want to admit the child, they can often turn on them and push them away, repeatedly, if the child persists, and this often ends up being a bullying situation.

Remember that bullying is widely defined as – when someone or a group of people with more power repeatedly and intentionally cause hurt or harm to another person or group of people who feel helpless to respond. Bullying can continue over time, is often hidden from adults and will probably continue if no action is taken.

Bullying is not:

- Single episodes of social rejection or dislike;

- Single episodes of acts of nastiness or spite;

- Random acts of aggression or intimidation;

- Mutual arguments, disagreements or fights.

None of these things are acceptable and as a school we work to respond appropriately to all such incidents. A parent writing to me in relation to my comments last week said, “I am not, as I write, sure how the school goes forward but a brave and radical approach is probably required …”

I agree, and we are looking into the use of an anti-bullying program to help us ensure that our school culture is strong enough to minimise bullying (and all unkind behaviour) and helps students to be different. But we need to do this together. You need to monitor your child’s behaviour and ensure they know that unkindness and the misuse of power over another is not acceptable in your family or our school.

If we can make real progress in this area, we will have together succeeded in something very worthwhile.