Being Respectful - Anti Bullying

Wagga Wagga High School - Being Respectful (Anti-Bullying Plan) 2023

Bullying behaviour has three key features. It involves the intentional misuse of power in a relationship. It is ongoing and repeated, and it involves behaviours that can cause harm. The NSW Department of Education requires all NSW public schools to have an Anti-bullying Plan which details the strategies implemented to reduce student bullying behaviours.  

Resources 

The NSW anti-bullying website (see: https://antibullying.nsw.gov.au/) provides evidence-based resources and information for schools, parents and carers, and students. Schools are encouraged to visit the website to support whole-school prevention, early intervention and response approaches and strategies for student bullying behaviour. 

Our school rejects all forms of bullying behaviours, including online (or cyber) bullying by maintaining a  commitment to providing a safe, inclusive and respectful learning community that promotes student wellbeing. Executive staff are committed to establishing evidence-based approaches and strategies that promote a positive climate where bullying is less likely to occur. 

1 - School culture and inclusion 

All members of the school community are active participants in building a welcoming school culture that values diversity and fosters positive relationships. A key component of a supportive school culture is building respectful relationships and an ethos that bullying is not accepted, in both online and offline environments. School staff will actively respond to student bullying behaviour. 

Our school engages in the following practices to promote a positive school culture. 

1.1 - Student assemblies 

Student bullying and expectations about student behaviour will be discussed and information will be presented to promote a positive school culture where bullying is not accepted.

Ongoing

• SRC Student Voice – student leaders speak at whole school and year group assemblies

• All Year Advisors to regularly discuss the Code of Conduct with students at Year Meetings,
  and revisit as required throughout the year

• Positivity Box winners are acknowledged, promoted and rewarded for positive behaviour

• Bullystoppers resources 

Semester 1

• Introduction to all wellbeing staff, outlining their roles, communication modes and locations

• Introduction to Anti-Racism Contact Officer (ARCO), including role description and reporting

• Police Liaison talk re: cybersafety, sexting and avenues for reporting

• Friendship strategies – including dealing with conflict, tolerance, anti-bullying and reporting incidences of bullying 

• NSW DET Anti-Bullying Policy – including student expectations provided to years 7-10

• Harmony Day (March 21)

• Safer Internet Day (February 7)

Semester 2

• A reminder of wellbeing supports (Wellbeing staff, roles, communication modes and locations)

• Reminder about Anti-Racism Contact Officer (ARCO), including role description and reporting

• Police Liaison talk re: risk-taking behaviour and looking out for a mate

• Friendship strategies – including dealing with conflict, tolerance, anti-bullying and reporting incidences of bullying 

• Reminder about NSW DET Anti-Bullying Policy – including student expectations provided to years 7-10

• National Day of Action against Bullying & Violence (August 18)

• Wear It Purple Day (August 26)

• RUOK Day (September 14)

• International Day of People with a Disability (December 3)

1.2 - Staff communication and professional learning 

Staff will be supported with professional learning that provides evidence-based ways to encourage and teach positive social and emotional wellbeing and discourage, prevent, identify, and respond effectively to student bullying behaviour. 

Ongoing

• Individual student Safety Plan, Individual Education Plan, Individualised Support Plan and Personalised Learning Plan shared with staff and flagged on Sentral

• Weekly review meetings with relevant Deputy Principal, Year Adviser, Student Support Officer, LaST and HT Wellbeing to discuss students at risk and provide feedback to staff

• Promotion of NSW DET Anti-Bullying website and BullyStoppers advice for staff, students and parents

• Promotion of online courses, in Wellbeing and Anti-Bullying, such as Accidental Counsellor, Mind Safe and Youth Mental Health First Aid

• Learning support team meets and provides feedback to all staff weekly

• HT Admin monitors areas of high need in the playground during breaks and allocates staff accordingly

• Staff are provided with resources created by the SRC in order to teach Wellbeing lessons that are focussed on creating a positive and safe school environment

• All staff record information pertinent to bullying behaviour on Sentral and refer to Deputy Principal where necessary

Semester 1

• Principal (or delegate) informs all staff who have direct contact with students of their legal responsibilities related to mandatory reporting, reportable conduct and managing bullying behaviour

• Staff responsibilities and procedures for responding to bullying reviewed once a semester 

Semester 2

• Staff responsibilities and procedures for responding to bullying reviewed once a semester 

• Staff reminded about processes for reporting bullying and managing bullying behaviours

1.3 - New and casual staff 

New and casual staff will be informed about our school’s approaches and strategies to prevent and  respond to student bullying behaviour in the following ways. 

• Staff induction for new staff and casual staff members occurs upon entry to the school.  The principal speaks to new executive staff when they enter the school.  Staff members are provided with a staff induction by an executive member. This induction includes introduction to:

  • • the NSW DET Anti-Bullying Policy

    • WWHS Anti-Bullying Plan

    • reporting procedures for incidents of bullying 

    • the role of various staff members in the response process for addressing issues of bullying and general wellbeing support

    • where to find information about students who have plans and additional needs

    • the staff handbook that is accessible on Google Sites 

• New scheme teachers are supported by the HT Teaching and Learning when they begin at the school

• New staff are supported by experienced peers in implementing student support plans

2  - Partnerships with families and community 

Effective schools have high levels of parental and community involvement. This involvement is strongly related to improved student learning, attendance and behaviour. Our school proactively builds collaborative relationships with families and communities to create a shared understanding of how to support student learning, safety and wellbeing. 

2.1 - The Website 

Our school website has information to support families in helping their children to regulate their emotions and behaviour and develop socially. Information is provided to assist if children have been involved in bullying behaviour (as the person engaging in bullying behaviour, as the person being bullied or as the person witnessing the bullying behaviour). 

The following are published on our school’s website:

• Wagga Wagga High School Anti-bullying Plan

• NSW DET Anti-bullying website link

• Behaviour Code for students

NSW Department of Education | PD-2010-0415-01-V1.1.2 | Applicable from 27/01/2021 2  If this is a printed document, refer to the department’s Policy Library for the most recent version. 

2.2 - Communication with parents 

Our school will provide information to parents to help promote a positive school culture where bullying is not acceptable and to increase parent’s understanding of how our school addresses all forms of bullying behaviour. 

Ongoing

• Wellbeing Wednesday Facebook, Newsletter and emails relating to supporting students in their personal development

• Facebook posts about anti-bullying activities that have taken place at school ie Police Liaison Officer visits, Harmony Day, RUOK Day…

Semester 1

• Behaviour code, Anti-bullying Plan and Support Network documents distributed in the newsletter and via email to all families

Semester 2

• Behaviour code, Anti-bullying Plan and Support Network documents distributed in the newsletter and via email to all families

3 - Support for wellbeing and positive behaviours  

Our school’s practices support student wellbeing and positive behaviour approaches that align with our school community’s needs. 

Social and emotional skills related to personal safety, resilience, help-seeking and protective behaviours are explicitly taught across the curriculum in Personal Development, Health and Physical Education  (PDHPE).  

Examples of other ways our school will embed student wellbeing and positive behaviour approaches and strategies in practices include the following. 

• Special events to raise awareness and promote positive behaviours - Safer Internet Day, Harmony Day, National Day against Bullying & Violence, RUOK Day,  International Day of People with a Disability, Wear it Purple

• PDHPE Year 7-10 programs focus on identifying and responding to bullying behaviour

• Programs for all students:

  • • Merit system 

    • Wellbeing lessons created by the SRC

    • Wellbeing Hub available for students and families

    • BATYR mental health program

    • Positivity Box

    • Year-specific wellbeing days

    • Police Liaison Officer visits

    • Homework Centre

    • Breakfast Club

    • Careers programs

• Targeted programs for identified students or year groups:

  • • RAGE

    • Managing the Bull

    • #Friends

    • Social skills

    • Changing Gears

    • Strategies for Success

    • LoveBites

    • Year 12 mentoring

    • GRIP Leadership

    • Year 6 transition program

Completed by: Nathan Gunter (Deputy Principal) & Lyn Murray (Head Teacher Wellbeing) 12/2/2023