ANTI-BULLYING POLICY INTRODUCTION WSPBIS...Nagle and the Presentation Sisters. The spirit of the...

St Mary Magdalen’s Parish School Phone: +61 (0)3 98070315 15 Bambil St, Chadstone, VIC 3148 Email: [email protected]

Anti Bullying Policy Last modified: January 2020

ANTI-BULLYING POLICY

INTRODUCTION

St Mary Magdalen’s School (the School) is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of the School community. The school upholds the charism of Nano Nagle and the Presentation Sisters. The spirit of the Sisters lives on in the welcome, hospitality and care each person receives within the school community. The school aims to bring the light of confidence, learning and education to all, especially the poor and vulnerable within the community.

To foster the School’s commitment to maintaining a safe and positive environment, the School has adopted a whole-school approach to promote positive behaviour: Whole School Positive Behaviour Intervention and Support (WSPBIS). This approach has a strong emphasis on teaching appropriate behaviours and providing systems of support to bring about these positive behaviours. The School is committed to providing an environment where bullying will not be tolerated and all persons are encouraged to pursue excellence without interference from bullying in all areas of the School environment.

PURPOSE

St Mary Magdalen’s school is committed to providing and maintaining, so far as is reasonably practicable, a school environment that is safe and without risk to health and wellbeing.

The purpose of this Policy is to set out the expectations of all members of the School community in their dealings with other members of the School community.

SCOPE AND APPLICATION

This policy applies to all members of the School community including students, clergy, school staff, including school employees, volunteers and contractors and parents.

DEFINITIONS

“Bullying“ means “repeated, unreasonable behaviour directed toward another person or group of persons which creates a risk to health and safety”.

“repeated unreasonable behaviour” means repeated behaviour that a reasonable person, having regard to all of the circumstances would expect, and is usually associated with victimisation, humiliation, undermining or threatening behaviour, and

“behaviour” includes actions, or words, of individuals or a group, and may involve using a system of work as a means of victimising, humiliating, undermining or threatening, and

“risk to health and safety” includes risk to the mental or physical health of a person.

According to the National Centre Against Bullying, there are five different kinds of bullying behaviour.



Physical bullying: when physical actions such as hitting, poking, tripping or pushing, are used to hurt and intimidate. Repeatedly and intentionally damaging someone's belongings is also physical bullying.

Verbal bullying: involves the use of negative words, like name calling, insults, homophobic or racist slurs, or words used to intentionally upset someone.

Social bullying: when lies, the spreading of rumours or nasty pranks are used. This includes repeated mimicking and deliberate exclusion.

Psychological bullying: involves the repeated and intentional use of words or actions which can cause psychological harm. Examples include intimidation, manipulation and stalking.

Cyber bullying: is when technology is used to verbally, socially or psychologically bully. It can occur in chat rooms, on social networking sites, through emails or on mobile phones.

Bullying is not:

• mutual arguments and disagreements

• single episodes of social rejection or dislike

• single-episode acts of nastiness or spite

• random acts of aggression or intimidation.

RESPONSIBILITIES

St. Mary Magdalen’s is committed to building a culture of positive behaviour. This supports a broad range of systemic and individualised strategies for achieving important academic and school-wide behaviour outcomes. All members of the School community are responsible for knowing the expectations that are placed upon them by the School in fostering and promoting the culture of positive behaviour.

WSPBIS emphasises teaching children positive behaviours in supportive environments so that they may learn from their choices and be accountable for their actions. The WSPBIS approach uses universal strategies for helping students achieve important social and learning goals. When good teaching and good behaviour come together, students will have greater success their learning.

As part of the WSPBIS program, we have established several clear rules for the behaviour we expect in all areas of our school. Furthermore, we will actively teach, model, and reinforce our School-Wide Expectations.

At St. Mary Magdalen’s School we expect and promote the following behaviours in our community:

RESPECT Respecting self



Respecting belongings of self and others

Demonstration of an awareness of the rights and feelings of others

Attentive listening

Appropriate communication

RESPONSIBILITY Following instructions of staff

Making appropriate choices at all times

Accepting responsibility for own behaviour

Having appropriate equipment for tasks

Attempting set work to best of ability

Effective management of time

Contribution to life and activities of the school

SAFETY Safe use of equipment

Acknowledgment and respect of the personal space of self and others

Following of school rules and routines

Moving safely through the school environment

Resolution of conflict without violence

Universal Expectations

All persons within the School community are expected to adhere to and promote the School’s universal expectations of positive behaviour:

• We are respectful

• We are responsible

• We act safely

• We achieve our best and reach for the STARS!

Leadership Expectations

Staff who maintain leadership positions at the School have a vital role to play in preventing bullying and in responding appropriately to any instances of bullying that come to their attention. These responsibilities include:



• Collaboratively developing, implementing and reviewing policies and procedures to promote a culture of positive behaviour and minimise instances of bullying;

• Ensuring staff and students understand their responsibilities and are made aware of the School’s expectations of them with respect to bullying and positive behaviour;

• Training staff on managing and responding appropriately to instances of bullying that come to their attention;

• Taking immediate action to stop workplace bullying if he/she observes it;

• Providing support to persons who disclose instances of bullying, to ensure that those persons are not victimised or further victimised as a result of doing so;

• Ensuring that their own behaviour is free from bullying; and

• Monitoring to reduce the risk of bullying occurring or recurring.

Staff Expectations

All staff at the School are expected to:

• be familiar with and comply wit the School’s Anti-Bullying Policy and applicable procedures for responding to allegations of bullying and inappropriate behaviour;

• demonstrate commitment to the WSPBIS by treating others fairly and with respect at all times;

• actively discourage and call out instances of bullying in the School community;

• report instances of bullying to appropriate persons;

• demonstrate the School’s principles of pastoral care when dealing with and communicating with all persons involved in instances of bullying;

• model, educate and suggest appropriate, positive anti-bullying behaviours and supportive bystander behaviours;

• use teaching and learning opportunities to address bullying;

• watch for signs of possible bullying;

• ensure that children are supervised adequately; and

• respond appropriately to all reported and observed incidents of bullying, including reporting incidents through the School Incident Report.

Student Expectations

All students at the School are expected to:



• treat others fairly and with respect at all times;

• comply with the School Anti Bullying Policy;

• if you witness bullying, help the person being bullied;

• use appropriate, positive anti-bullying behaviours;

• abide the school digital citizenship contract which has been signed;

• not engage in any bullying conduct towards other students, staff or any other person at the School at any time; and

• promptly report instances of bullying to an appropriate staff member at the School.

Parent Expectations

All parents of students at the School are expected to:

• be familiar with and comply with the School’s Anti-Bullying Policy and applicable procedures;

• model, educate and discuss appropriate, positive anti-bullying behaviours by communicate with members of the School community in a respectful and courteous manner at all times;

• Support the School leadership and staff in the development, promotion and implementation of the WSPBIS and this Anti Bullying Policy;

• actively discourage and call out instances of bullying in the School community; and

• report instances of bullying to appropriate persons;

• follow the procedures as outlined in the Grievance Policy;

• watch for signs of possible bullying;

• encourage and support your child to inform a teacher if they are being bullied or witness bullying;

• as a bystander or speak on their child’s behalf about bullying if the child is not confident to do so;

• attend School information evenings;

• support the child to comply with the School’s digital citizenship contract; and

• have confidence that the School will take any complaint of bullying seriously through investigation and will involve parents in the ongoing support of their child if there has been a case of bullying.

PROCEDURES



The School commitment to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all members of the School community is undertaken and demonstrated through a range of processes, initiatives and programs. The Anti Bullying Policy and expectations placed upon all members of the School community are embedded in the daily operations of the School and the interpersonal relationships of all members.

Preventing Bullying

The School adopts a range of primary prevention education and early intervention strategies to prevent incidents of bullying. Primary prevention education includes the teaching of curriculum content particular to supporting the resilience of students. Early intervention strategies including the identification of risks and inappropriate conduct coupled with reiteration of the education and School expectations around bullying.

Some of the strategies put in place by the School to prevent bullying include:

• Classroom instruction - Students are instructed in what the universal expectations look like across all settings of the school. These expectations are explicitly taught and students who exhibit positive behaviours are rewarded through positive behaviour cards and incentives for their great behaviour.

• Religious Education

• Making Jesus Real

• Weekly STAR Groups (Multi age Social and Emotional Learning)

• Class meetings

• Values Education

• Circle Time

• Age appropriate Personal Safety

• Grade 5/6 Personal Development

• Regular parent education via the school newsletter

• Cyber Education through regular whole school and in class Digital Citizenship lessons and activities

• Annual participation in the National Day of action against Bullying

• Year 6 Leadership program

• Better Buddies

• Student Representative Council

• School camps and excursions

• Extra curricular activities: Breakfast Club/Running Club



• Kimochis Program

• Individual Behaviour Support Plans

• Community review and consultation on the Anti-bullying Policy

• mapping and planning for of potential risks including geographical areas and students at risk. (3 Tiered System) this may include changes to duty areas, additional staff allocation or running of programs for targeted students.

• Development and display of SWPBIS banners and posters

• Explicit and continual teaching and reminding of the school’s anti-bullying stance.

• Individual Behaviour Support Plans

• Specific individual and group support when needed.

Response to Bullying

All members of the School community are expected and supported to prevent and minimise bullying behaviour and to make reports to appropriate persons where incidents do occur. When an allegation of bullying is made or an incident of bullying is observed, the School adopts intervention procedures in accordance with the School Positive Behaviour Policy and Behaviour Management Policy.

Restorative justice is the focus of any response to bullying incidents whereby support is provided to both the victim and perpetrator, with a focus on educational and or therapeutic interventions where necessary.

All allegations of bullying will be taken seriously and considered by the School. Investigations may be undertaken by School leadership in certain circumstances

In the event of a bullying incident being reported, the following steps will be taken:

*This process is a fluid process and the entry point, chronology or speed of the process may differ depending on the circumstances of the incident and/or the persons involved.

1. All students identified as being involved in an anti-social/negative behaviour incident for the first time will be spoken with by the staff member who observed the incident or to whom it was reported. The incident will be discussed with the students involved and they will have the opportunity to have their voice heard.

a. If required, the staff member will notify the Principal and the Principal may, in their discretion, investigate relevant student files, interview relevant students and staff members using restorative justice questioning and will record details of any interview conducted.



2. Once this has occurred the focus will be on reiterating the WSPBIS and reminding all students involved of their expectations for positive behaviour.

3. The staff member who observed the incident or to whom it was reported will then report the incident back to one of the Classroom Teacher, Student Wellbeing Officer or Principal who will record details of the incident.

4. If a student is identified as being involved in a further incident involving the same target or displaying the same negative behaviour, the issue will be treated as bullying. The student will be interviewed by the Principal and their parent(s) will be informed.

5. At the discretion of the Principal, a number of different methods may be used by the School to resolve the bullying conflict depending on the situation. If behaviour is of a violent or severe nature, the Principal may seek the involvement of, or advice from, the Catholic Education Office, Police and outside agencies.

6. Students who continue to be involved in ongoing bullying will be interviewed by the Principal together with their parents. Agreed goals and consequences will be established in line with WSPBIS via a school based Individual Behaviour Plan

7. Should the bullying continue after the Restorative Practice, appropriate action, which may include suspension or expulsion, will be taken at the discretion of the Principal.

The School has an absolute discretion to determine the appropriate course of action when the conduct of the Student is considered a serious breach of this Agreement, in accordance with the School Policies and Procedures.

BREACH OF THIS POLICY

Where an employee is suspected of breaching any obligation, duty or responsibility within this Policy, St Mary Magdalen’s School may start the process under clause 13 of the Victorian Catholic Education Multi Enterprise Agreement 2013 (VCEMEA) for managing employment concerns. This may result in disciplinary consequences, including summary dismissal. Where the Principal is suspected of breaching any obligation, duty or responsibility within this policy, the concerned party is advised to contact the parish priest or the employer. Relevant notification should also be made to Catholic Education Melbourne (Office of Professional Conduct, Ethics and Investigation). Where a parent is suspected of breaching any obligation, duty or responsibility within this policy, the school is to take appropriate action by speaking with that parent about their conduct. If breaches continue, the School may take appropriate action, including suspension or termination of that parent’s child’s enrolment.



TRAINING AND REVIEW

All staff at St Mary Magdalen’s will receive training on this Policy on an annual basis. Staff are expected to be aware of the requirements of this Policy and act in accordance with it at all times. This policy will be made available to all members of the School community via the School website. This policy will be reviewed as part of St Mary Magdalen’s two-year review cycle to ensure that it remains consistent with relevant legislative requirements. This Policy may be amended, withdrawn or replaced from time to time at the discretion of the School.

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