From the Assistant Principal Students

Bullying

In a perfect world there would be no bullying. Unfortunately, we live in a complex world and bullying does occur. 

Bullying in schools is a worldwide problem that can have negative consequences for the general school climate and for the right of students to learn in a safe environment without fear. Bullying can also have negative lifelong consequences--both for students who bully and for their victims. 

Bullying happens on buses, in the cafeteria, gym, hallways, playground, and in classrooms even after school. The most frequent form bullying takes is through psychological humiliation words such as teasing, taunting, ridiculing, name-calling, and gossip, secrets. This type of bullying happens in the “physical” world and that world has time and space limits. 

Cyber-bullying is making school days even more painful for many children preventing them from doing their job. Bullying in cyberspace is not bound by school hours, school days, or facing the intended bully victim. Unfortunately, the nature of the Internet often insulates the bully from the consequences of their behaviour.

In addition to direct attacks, bullying may also be more indirect by causing a student to be socially isolated and embarrassed. While boys typically engage in direct bullying methods, girls who bully are subtler, such as spreading rumours and enforcing social isolation. Whether the bullying is direct or indirect, the key component of bullying is that the physical or psychological intimidation occurs repeatedly over time to create an ongoing pattern of harassment and abuse which could lead to aggression and may trigger the victim to react violently or subject him to suicide.

As the number of households with Internet access and mobile phone ownership increases, so do the ways kids bully each other. Cyber-bullying in the form of text messages, emails, photos, website postings can go school-wide in minutes and global in days. Slanderous information sent out into cyberspace is difficult. Cyber-bullying often takes the form of cyber gossip and is posted on social networking sites such as Snapchat, Instagram and FaceBook.”

What does cyberbullying look like?

Cyberbullying behaviour might include:

• abusive texts and emails
• hurtful messages, images or videos
• imitating others online
• excluding others online
• humiliating others online
• spreading nasty online gossip and chat
• creating fake accounts to trick someone or humiliate them

How common is it?

1 in 5 Australian young people reported being socially excluded, threatened or abused online

55% sought help from their parents, 28% from their friends; 38% blocked the offending social media account; 12% reported it to the website or platform

1 in 5 Australian young people (15% of kids, 24% of teens) admitted behaving in a negative way to a peer online — such as calling them names, deliberately excluding them, or spreading lies or rumours. Of these, more than 90% have had a negative online experience themselves.

Signs to watch for

Children may not always tell adults about cyberbullying through fear they may overreact and make the situation worse. 

Watch for these signs:

• being upset after using the internet or their mobile phone
• changes in personality, becoming more withdrawn, anxious, sad or angry 
• appearing more lonely or distressed 
• unexpected changes in friendship groups 
• a decline in their school work 
• changes in their sleep patterns 
• avoidance of school or clubs 
• a decline in their physical health 
• becoming secretive about their online activities and mobile phone use

What do we do if it happens to you or someone you know?

If you are being bullied at school or online, or you know of someone who is being bullied, you must make positive moves to stop the bullying. St Andrews has a no tolerance rule for bullying but if you don’t tell us, we cannot help.

Step 1 – talk to someone about what is happening. If you know the person and you are comfortable approach them and ask them to stop.

Step 2- approach your parents or the school to help you sort out the issue. You have your Learning Advisor or your Leaders of Learning who are there to support you. They might give you strategies to help deal with the situation or they might intervene, this is up to you.

Step 3- If you are able to sort things out, move forward in a positive way, if not speak to another person or approach someone you trust to help you. At the end of the day we want all students to be safe and learning so we will assist any student to help make that happen. Don’t be afraid to come and see a teacher - it is our job to assist you.

Technology at school

At St Andrews College technology in the class room is only used at the request of a teacher. On the Junior Campus students are not to use any technology outside the classroom except in the Learning Centre and only for school work. The Senior Campus students are permitted to use technology outside the classroom. 

Please support the College in ensuring all students follow technology rules of the College. The agreement of acceptable use of Technology is in the planner.

What is in the Planner?

Social connectedness helps us develop meaning and purpose in our life. We have lost personal touch with others because of social media and electronic interaction. We are seeing reduced opportunities for social interaction. This has been made harder during Covid. The value of relationships and connectedness has become more important and has a direct link to our social and emotional wellbeing.

Social interaction helps us develop an understanding of a person’s body language, curiosity by asking “tell me more”, ability to listen with your eyes, ears and heart and the ability to connect with others. It is time to self-correct if your relationships are based on social media or you text or check social media non stop.

Having social connectedness will help develop your Social Intelligence. The ability to read and understand others is a strength that is essential in the workforce. I think the Zombie apocalypse is the people in our community being so focused on their devise that they will lack the social presence and purpose to enjoy human interaction.

Before we get caught up with our electronics, ask yourself what the implications and impact will be?

Thank you and God Bless

Nicholas Thrum
Assistant Principal Students