Assistant Principal News
Dear Parents and Carers,
It has been a busy and exciting fortnight at St Bernard’s School, with students participating in a variety of special events. These opportunities are a vital part of our school culture, offering students the chance to shine in different areas. Some highlights include sporting competitions and trials, STEM enrichment activities, and excursions to our local beach environment. A big thank you to our dedicated staff and parents for making these enriching experiences possible for our students.
What is bullying?
It’s crucial that the adults supporting students in social matters are equipped with the knowledge and tools to help their child navigate and resolve social challenges.
At St Bernard’s School, we take bullying very seriously. We are committed to continuously deepening our understanding of student social concerns and integrating this knowledge into our school environment. This is reflected in our health programs, peer support initiatives, and behaviour management policy.
We firmly believe that working together as a team, family and school, is key to providing the support our students need. The following information from the NSW Education website offers valuable insights into addressing bullying.
Bullying has three key features.
It:
- involves a misuse of power in a relationship
- is ongoing and repeated, and
- involves behaviours that can cause harm.
Bullying can also occur online. This is known as cyberbullying, which is using technology such as the internet or mobile devices to bully someone. It can include sending abusive texts and emails, posting hurtful messages and putting inappropriate comments on pictures of others.
Bullying of any kind is not acceptable in NSW schools, whatever the reason. Schools are committed to working with parents, staff and students to prevent bullying and respond quickly and effectively if it does occur. What can you do if your child has been bullied?
- Listen calmly and get the full story. Your child needs to know that they are being heard. Their feelings matter and their concerns should be taken seriously.
- Encourage your child to talk about what happened. Explain to your child that reporting the bullying is okay.
- After listening to their concerns, ask questions to get more details if needed: who, what, where, when.
- Reassure your child that they are not to blame. Children may blame themselves and this can make them feel even worse.
- Say supportive things like, ‘That sounds really hard to deal with’, or ‘I’m so glad you told me. You should feel safe at school’.
- Ask your child what they want to do – and what they want you to do. It is important to help your child to find their own solution as this will help them feel that they have some control over the situation.
If your child is not in any immediate danger and they feel confident, they could try these strategies:
- Ignore the bullying.
- Turn their back and walk away.
- Act unimpressed or pretend they don’t care.
- Say “No” or “Just stop!” firmly.
If the bullying happened at school, support your child to tell a teacher. If your child wants to talk to someone other than the school or you think added support would help, you could tell them to go to the Kids Helpline website. They can also call for free on 1800 55 1800.
School Photos – Friday 4 April
School photos will be taken tomorrow, Friday 4 April. Both individual and class photos will be captured throughout the day, with sibling photos scheduled during recess and lunch breaks. To order photos, please follow the instructions on the order envelope. Kindly ensure the completed envelope is returned with your child on Friday.
We ask that all students wear their full summer school uniform for the photo day.
As Term One draws to a close, I would like to express my gratitude for your continued support and for entrusting us with the care and education of your children.
We hope you enjoy the upcoming school holidays! Whether you’re embarking on an adventure or spending time with loved ones, we wish you safe travels. School holidays offer a wonderful opportunity for students to reset, refresh, and make lasting memories with those special to them.
Kind regards
Jeni McCarthy
Assistant Principal