Granville Public School: Anti-Bullying
2010
GRANVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL
~ ANTI-BULLYING PLAN ~
POLICY STATEMENT
“NSW public schools have always taught the values that are the basis of law, customs and
care for others in our society. Values shape attitudes to the changing circumstances, events
and issues encountered in daily life. Schools in NSW share with families and the community
the responsibility for teaching values. While values are learnt predominantly in the home and
modified through relationships and life experiences, parents and the community have high
expectations about commonly held values also being taught in schools. Values guide student
welfare and discipline ” (Values in NSW Public Schools, 2004)
The Government recognises the importance of the following core values to the Community.
These are promoted and taught by the school:
 INTEGRITY Being consistently honest and trustworthy.
 EXCELLENCE Striving for the highest personal achievement in all aspects
of schooling and individual and community action, work and life-long learning.
 RESPECT Having regard for yourself and others, lawful and just
authority and diversity within Australian society and accepting the right of others to
hold different or opposing views.
 RESPONSIBILITY Being accountable for your individual and community’s actions
towards yourself, others and the environment.
 COOPERATION Working together to achieve common goals, providing support to
others and engaging in peaceful resolution of conflict.
 PARTICIPATION Being a proactive and productive individual and group member,
having pride in and contributing to the social and economic wealth of the community
and the nation.
 CARE Concern for the wellbeing of yourself and others, demonstrating empathy and
acting with compassion.
 FAIRNESS Being committed to the principles of social justice and opposing prejudice,
dishonesty and injustice.
 DEMOCRACY Accepting and promoting the rights, freedoms and
responsibilities of being an Australian citizen.
 The school has included PERSEVERANCE as another values dimension
These values are embedded in the Granville Public School 2009 Discipline Policy & Program.
This Anti-bullying Plan is a key part of the school’s planning for student wellbeing and
effective learning.
We promote an inclusive environment, where diversity is affirmed and individual differences
are respected. Quality education is provided for students to meet their learning needs in a
secure, ordered and supportive environment. The focus of quality education is for students to
learn and grow with confidence.
Granville Public School: Anti-Bullying
2010
Schools exist in a society where intimidation and harassment occur. Bullying is to be taken
seriously and is not acceptable in any form.
Students have the right to expect that they will spend the school day free from the fear of
bullying, harassment and intimidation.
Teachers, students, parents, caregivers and members of the wider community have a
responsibility to work together to address bullying.
DEFINITION
Bullying is repeated oppression, psychological or physical, of a less powerful person by a
more powerful person or group of persons (Farrington, 1993 and Rigby, 1996). It has an
intent to injure and is not random. It is deliberate. (Slee, 1993).
Bullying can include:
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Physical behaviour such as hitting, kicking, punching or spitting
Throwing objects
Threatening gestures
Verbal insults
Use of body language to threaten
Removing and hiding belongings
Psychological harassment
Social isolation
Racial, religious or cultural insults
Setting up hurtful WebPages
Sending malicious, hurtful or vindictive sms or email messages
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The Granville Public School Community (students, staff and parents) are opposed to any
form of bullying and will promote its eradication in all instances. As part of the school’s
welfare and discipline policies, the core values as outlined in Values in NSW Public Schools
will be promoted.
The school aims to:
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Provide a safe and happy environment for students, staff and parents.
Develop a school culture in which co-operation is fostered and harassment is not
tolerated.
Eradicate bullying and associated learned behaviours and empower students, staff
and parents to deal with issues associated with harassment.
Detail strategies, which proactively deal with issues of violence, harassment,
intimidation and bullying to create a safe environment.
Provide the understanding that social sensitivity can be taught in a systematic
manner through the curriculum and school culture.
Granville Public School: Anti-Bullying
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2010
Acknowledge that all school community members have a responsibility to work
together.
The following expectations are at the core of the anti-bullying plan:
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Students are expected to play safely; report all bullying incidents; co-operate with
other students and staff.
Staff are expected to encourage co-operative behaviour through co-operative
learning techniques; be vigilant and proactive on playground duty; respond to all
students' concerns and complaints; assist with the identification of students who are
using bullying behaviour; be positive role models for all students; and be aware of
the DET discrimination policies.
Parents are asked to discuss the policy with their child; encourage co-operative
behaviour in the children; discourage retaliation of any kind; encourage
independence in their children; and report any incidents of harassment.
MANAGING BULLYING
Whole school strategies
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Social skills programs when appropriate
PBIS Program (Granville Galaxy) including specific anti-bullying lessons
Encouragement of an ongoing commitment from staff, parents and students to
a safe and happy playground through promotion of a school culture that values
cooperation, learning and participation
All staff, parents and students having high expectations and this being part of
the school culture
Weekly Peace Awards.
Intervention programs including ISTB and School Counsellor support.
Surveys.
Co-operative learning techniques within the classroom.
Teaching of appropriate playground activities.
Active identification of students requiring intervention.
Discussion of bullying in assemblies.
Articles in the newsletter.
Large posters developed by the students.
Professional learning of staff
Consistent implementation of the school’s discipline policy and program
Participation in the annual ‘Harmony Day’
Promotion, through the school discipline system, of the Department’s / school’s
values.
Development of effective, positive leaders
Include student leaders and SRC in initiatives to counter bullying such as
playground programs, friendship circles, buddy class programs.
Classroom strategies
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Regular classroom discussions of bullying.
Granville Public School: Anti-Bullying
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2010
PBIS Program (Granville Galaxy)
Explicit teaching of appropriate behaviour
Maintenance of records detailing students' behaviour.
Designing of classroom peace symbol.
Teaching of games.
Implementation of social skills programs
Buddy and peer support programs in which older and younger students work
together
Role play or highlighting appropriate interactions to deal with instances of
teasing which may lead to bullying
Empowering students to act in an assertive manner when dealing with
situations of conflict.
All students, staff and parents are encouraged, and obliged, to report in the first instance, any
form of bullying behaviour which may take place in the school environment to either the
Principal or a relevant staff member. If the person reporting the behaviour wishes to make a
formal complaint, the procedures as outlined in ‘Responding to Suggestions, Complaints and
Allegations’ will be followed. Parents, students and staff will be regularly reminded of the
procedures to report bullying behaviour.
As it is expected that the majority of reports will come from the students themselves, staff will
encourage students to approach their classroom teacher (if the bullying behaviour takes
place in class); the playground teacher (if the bullying behaviour takes place in the
playground); or a staff member with whom they feel ‘comfortable’. This includes directly
approaching the Principal.
Bullying behaviours will not be tolerated from any one in the school community. This includes
students, staff and parents. Everyone has the right to exist in an environment free of
harassment.
All reports will be taken seriously and dealt with in an efficient manner.
MONITORING AND EVALUATION
Indicators of successful implementation of the strategies described will include:
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fewer reports of bullying behaviours
more students attaining higher award levels
fewer ‘low level’ suspensions
more students utilising their playground time in a constructive manner
earlier intervention
fewer students being identified as causing problems in the playground
other data as relevant to the PBIS program
Granville Public School: Anti-Bullying
2010
This Anti bullying plan will be updated in accordance with the Department of Education and
Training’s requirements and as the school’s Discipline Policy changes.