Jervis Bay Christian Community School

Bullying Policy

RATIONALE

Ephesians 4: 22-32
1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Jesus speaks about our spiritual responsibility to care for those who are vulnerable or powerless, particularly children. Christian adults are explicitly warned not to abuse their authority over children in what they do or say. This also applies to the school’s responsibility to endeavour to provide a safe environment for students.

This includes acting to help prevent students from taking advantage of others by physical, emotional, or sexual, abuse.

Definition: A person is bulled when he or she is exposed repeatedly to negative actions by one or more persons.

IMPLICATIONS

As the school’s discipline and pastoral care policy aims to provide a learning environment which supplies and promotes

    • physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being
    • security and stability
    • awareness of right and wrong
    • responsibility for one’s own behaviour
    • discipline through instruction and correction

… we can say that at Jervis Bay Christian Community School…

    • each member of the school is seen to be made in the image of God and is God’s precious creation
    • all members of the school community should feel safe going to school, and in the school environment
    • each member of the school has the responsibility for promoting a safe environment.
    • bullying is not tolerated
    • perpetrators and victims will be given guidance and helped to be reconciled to each other.

Examples of bullying include:

    • Causing physical discomfort or pain
    • Teasing or verbal abuse
    • Unjustified exclusion of students from an activity or group
    • Gossiping, telling lies or spreading rumours about others
    • Damaging possessions or taking them without permission
    • Making others feel uncomfortable by the use of sexual references or actions
    • Causing others to be afraid
    • Making threats against a person or toward their property
    • Using offensive racial or other discriminatory terms.

BULLYING PREVENTION

3 Fold Measures

1. Education: “Code of Conduct”, contains specific guidance, taught each semester and includes
     (a) To love and respect your fellow students
     (b) To play safely and helpfully.

2. Supporting School Tone: that is characterised by
     (a) Consistent caring, just and fair modelling by staff, helpers and student leaders
     (b) Reinforcing and encouraging a caring, just and fair attitude of students.

3. The Enforcing of the Remedial Measures consistently, fairly and justly.

REMEDIAL MEASURES

Level 1: Staff having a full understanding of the actual offences.

Minor Issues:

    a) Staff understanding the students involved
    b) The offending student/s acknowledging
              -their actions &
              -their need to assume responsibility for their actions
    c) Other students contributing to the course/s of the offence to be aware of how they may be contributing
         to the problem
    d) Discussion and deciding how all parties can avoid such conflict
    e) Praying with students, seeking God’s help.

Level 2: Major Issues

    a) Offending student isolated from peers until deemed ready to play safely with others. The usual withdrawal is for two play periods the 1st instant; four periods the 2nd instance in three weeks.
    b) Offending student, and students contributing to the offence, managed as for 1 above, but involving parents.

Level 3: Where students are not responding to measures of Levels 1 & 2

    a ) Student suspended for two days. Offending student/s parents, Principal and School/family Pastor/Priest convene a series of meetings according to the procedure of the Discipline Policy with a view to rehabilitating the student.
    b) If:
        (i) student re-offends within two weeks, or
        (ii) parents are not sufficiently supportive, parents may be asked to withdraw their child from the School.

Procedure for Reporting an Act of Bullying

     1. Students should report any bullying to their Classroom Teacher.

     2. Parents wishing to make a report about bullying, should make a report to the school office personnel.
         They, in turn will pass the concern onto the appropriate member of staff; eg.
         a) to the class teacher or teacher who was on playground duty at the time
        b) or if a) not appropriate, to the Principal.

     3. Person making the report will be informed of school response within 24 hours.

    4. Person making the report / or parent/s of students involved, will be kept informed of developments as a satisfactory
        solution is sought.