STAFF at Guardian Angels’ School, Wynnum, on the eighth National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence sent a clear message that bullying is never okay.
The day of action united school communities across Australia who were called to imagine a world free from bullying.
Guardian Angels’ staff joined thousands of staff and students who were helping find workable solutions that addressed bullying and violence.
Orange was the colour of choice as staff core T-shirts with the message “bullying no way, take a stand together” emblazoned across the front in bold letters.
The aim was to get the message across to students that staff were there to support them at all times.
Year 6 students kicked off activities with a performance of a special “rap” song they wrote especially for the day.
Year 6 student Amelia Erwin said the song focused on the message that bullying was never acceptable.
She said nobody wanted bullying at their school.
“There were lots of positive messages telling people not to bully and to stick up for other people who might be bullied,” she said.
“Messages (included) that if you are being bullied you should tell a teacher or your parents.”
Fellow Year 6 student Jacob Bub said he was surprised when he arrived at school to see all the teachers in orange T-shirts.
“It showed us they supported the message that bullying was never okay for anyone to do,” Jacob said. “It also let us know that we can go to them and tell them if we are being bullied.
“We can feel safe while at school.”
Principal Craig Acret said the whole school community had embraced the day.
“It shows our teachers are leaders in this space; they have all bought into this and see it as a day of education and enabling our students to feel safe in regards to bullying,” he said.
“I saw parents come to school today also wearing orange in support.”
Mr Acret said schools played a vital part in the overall approach to bullying.
“It’s about acknowledging that we all play a proactive part in combating and dealing with bullying,” he said.
“Schools are there to educate and enable students, so they can take some responsibility and know what to do if and when they may face bullying.”
Guidance counsellor Cintia May, who helped organise the day, said every classroom, every teacher and every student received the message bullying was never okay, that it could happen to anyone and it could happen anywhere and at any time.
“It was about raising awareness and for our students to know what to do if they are being bullied,” she said.
“We wanted them to know that you don’t have to be a bully to be included, to be loved, to be cared for.
“Here, we are all kind to each other and we appreciate everybody’s gifts, so ‘be kind’ was the message.”
Ms May said the school would revisit the anti-bullying information with teachers wearing their orange T-shirts once a term as a visual reminder that bullying was never ever permissible.
