As a school operating both Primary and Secondary campuses, ensuring every child feels safe and supported is our priority. This is why understanding bullying and how to address it is crucial to fostering a positive and inclusive environment for all.
What is School Bullying?
Bullying in schools is a harmful behaviour, often repeated over time, that can be physical, verbal, or social. School bullying includes psychological, emotional, cyber, social or physical harassment of one student by another at school or within the school community. This can happen in any setting, so it’s important to be aware of the dynamics your child may encounter.
Signs of School Bullying
Recognizing the signs that your child is the victim of school bullying gives parents the chance to intervene before the situation escalates.
Consequently, parents should be aware of:
– Unexplained injuries
– Changes in eating habits
– Bed-wetting, nightmares or inability to sleep.
– Sudden changes in friends or avoidance of social situations
– Falling behind in school work, sudden anger at teachers, refusing to go to school.
If you notice these signs, it’s important to have a compassionate conversation with your child and notify school staff if necessary.
What can you do as a Parent?
According to a booklet by Tusla and Barnardos, whenever you notice your child may be experiencing any form of bullying, there are several things you can do to help your child in dealing with the situation.
– Remain calm. Displaying anger or upset may distress your child further. Listen and be supportive.
– Help to build your child’s confidence. Discuss possible things to say when being bullied and (if appropriate) have your child practise this.
– Engage in physical activities with your child. This will help him/her to develop physical coordination and become less physically tense.
– Always report incidents of bullying to school authorities. This way, parents can work together with the school to prevent bullying of any sort in our environment.
How Greenoak Tackles Bullying
At Greenoak International School, it is important to know that the school has a zero-tolerance policy for bullying and frowns at bullying of any shape or form. Necessary disciplinary and behaviour modification measures have been instituted and taken when needed to curb incidents of bullying. Staff continuously monitor the children, and established procedures are in place to handle any incidents.
Students are also encouraged to report any incidents of bullying, as we provide a safe, confidential process for doing so. In an interview with one of our guidance and counselling officers, Mr Vincent: he explained several ways in which information on bullying is communicated to the relevant parties. He stated that, “for students, information on bullying is adequately communicated through seminars, workshops, assemblies and counselling sessions. Parents can equally get such information through Parent Teacher Forums (PTFs), blog articles and interaction with school officials. For the teachers, they are supported with development training where they are trained to spot signs of bullying and take appropriate action swiftly.“
These proactive approaches help to foster a positive school environment where bullying is less likely to occur.
Conclusion
As the Michaelmas progresses, it’s important for all of us—parents, students, and staff—to work together to ensure that Greenoak International School remains a safe and welcoming place for every student. By staying informed and involved, you can help prevent bullying and support a positive school experience for your child.