This nationwide focus on bullying prevention is today Pink Shirt Day Friday 15th. We are encouraged to reinforce our value of respect in the school and wider community where we support one another against bullying. Over the years it has been awesome to see our student community get behind this.

Our Student Council help to promote Pink Shirt Day. In assemblies they spread the message of kindness/support for one another. Council members Bella Paterson, Jorja Andrews, Rashaun Melvin, Mr Geerlofs Acting Principal and myself all spoke in assembly this week as a regular part of our promotion for this day. Pink Shirt Day began in Canada in 2007 when two male students took a stand against bullying after another student was harassed and threatened for wearing pink. The boys bought dozens of pink shirts and distributed them throughout the school and hundreds of students showed up in pink the next day to support him. We ask students to wear an item of pink clothing, one or more to show their support and bring a gold coin that is collected by the Council for donations to initiatives that support mental health. Pink Shirt Day has spread all over the world to raise awareness of the impact bullying can have on people of all ages, genders and cultures. The day promotes the development of positive relationships and environments where everyone can feel safe. 

Bullying is defined based on four characteristics: 

● Bullying is deliberate (there is an intention to cause physical and/or psychological pain or discomfort to another person). 

● Bullying involves a power imbalance (there is an actual or perceived unequal relationship between the target and the initiator that may be based on physical size, age, gender, social status or digital capability and access). 

● Bullying has an element of repetition (not a one-off. It is repeated over time, with the threat of further incidents leading to fear and anxiety. Repeated acts of bullying may involve single acts with different targets, as well as multiple acts with the same target). 

● Bullying is harmful (There is a short or long term physical or psychological harm to the target).

Bullying behaviour is influenced by the actions and values of peer groups, schools, families and whanau, communities and societies. A whole school and community approach is encouraged to positively influence student behaviour.  We have Constable Briana Dent coming in to speak with students from a Police perspective soon. We welcome ideas and input from members of our school community. We encourage students and parents/whanau to speak with us at school where there may be a concern so that we can help to resolve things and support you. We do take complaints seriously. Contact can be made with Mentors/Deans or Members of the Senior Leadership team and we will work with you to record any incidents, investigate and intervene where required to ensure that students feel safe. 

If you are concerned that your child may be being bullied please do get in touch with us at school.

Deans contacts:
Year 9 [email protected]
Year 10 [email protected]
Year 11 [email protected]
Year 12 [email protected]
Year 13 [email protected]

Wellbeing: Student Support Loves Me Not Year 12

Working alongside Police and other professionals we run the Loves Me Not programme annually with our Year 12 group. On Thursday we had representatives from Dunedin Police, Gore Women's Refuge, and Public Health presenting to four groups. This programme helps to keep young people safe and they develop an awareness of aspects of healthy and unhealthy relationships. We are grateful for their continued support of this programme and parents/whanau are welcome to contact me if they would like any further information or have any questions. We welcome any feedback, all Year 12 students have completed the programme over a number of years now and the feedback from parents/caregivers and students about the value they find in the school running this programme has been excellent. The school and Library has copies of the book "Loves Me Not How to Keep Relationships Safe' by Lesley Elliott. If anyone would like a copy please get in touch with me. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-gt7QG7GEc

Cath Bloxham
Guidance Counsellor.