Bullying & Harassment Policy

St Kevin’s College is committed to ensuring a harmonious and safe environment for all members of the College community, where students, teachers and parents work co-operatively to ensure the Mission of the College and its educational and pastoral goals can be successfully met.

Definition

Being bullied or harassed means that someone is subjected to deliberate behaviour which is hurtful, threatening or frightening and this behaviour may be an isolated incident or repeated over time. Any behaviour, which sets out to cause other people pain or unhappiness, may be regarded as bullying.

Bullying is not in the intention (eg just mucking around) but in the perception of the behaviour.

Bullying or harassment may involve students, staff or other members of the College community.

Bullying or harassment can take many forms, and without limiting its forms may include:

• Physical bullying - any intentional and unwelcome use of physical contact or deliberate property damage. It includes fighting, pushing, interfering with another's property by stealing, hiding, damaging or destroying.
• Verbal bullying - use of language to threaten or hurt. This includes name-calling, offensive language, putting people down, back stabbing, making degrading comments about another's family, religious, social or racial background.
• Exclusion bullying - leaving someone out on purpose to cause feelings of non-acceptance. It includes spreading malicious rumours, writing on poster/walls/books etc.
• Extortion bullying - use of threat or power to obtain favour or goods, e.g. bullying others to provide food, money, or schoolwork.
• Racial/Religious bullying - antagonism or prejudice directed towards someone on the basis of their race/religion.
• Sexual bullying - Homophobia, unwelcome and uninvited comments, attention, contact or behaviour of a sexual nature that is found to be humiliating, offensive or intimidating. (Refer to College Sexual Harassment Policy)
• Gesture bullying - use of non-verbal signals to cause intimidation or fear.
• Electronic bullying - use of language or images to threaten and hurt by electronic means. (SMS text, emails, web sites, MSN etc)
• Psychological bullying - spreading rumours, excluding, stalking, dirty looks, hiding or damaging possessions.
• Any other conduct that is intimidating, unwelcome or uninvited - e.g. "Just Joking" which causes discomfort to others.

St Kevin's College Values

Each student at St Kevin’s College has the right to feel safe, happy and wanted. The college is against bullying in any form. Emphasis is placed upon:

1. Respect for the rights of other people.
2. Honesty and trust.
3. Respect for ethnic, religious and gender difference.
4. Common sense, good manners and courtesy.

What to do

If bullying is a problem for you, there are things you can do. Listed below are a few examples.

1. Don’t give the bully opportunities. Whenever possible, have others around for support.
2. Remain calm (no reaction means no power for the bully).
3. Ignoring the bully or walking away can work in some situation. Try it!
4. Try to respond to the bully with confidence. Look at him in the eye and hold your stare for a few seconds. Gather up all the strength and power you have! It’s in there!
5. Use strong body language. That means stand up tall and straight. Try to look confident even if you feel scared. You will feel strong if you think strong!
6. Assertive “I” statements will work in many situations Use your loud voice and say something like “I’m tired of this teasing and I want you to stop!” Keep the eye contact for a few more seconds.
7. If the bully is not backing off, you could use another response before you walk away. “Don’t you have anything else to do?”
8. Join one of the groups at SKC to learn more about these and other strategies of how to deal with bullying.
9. If these do not work – Seek help.

If this does not work - seek help

• From a Student Leader (Officer, Prefect, Mentor or another student)
• Go to a teacher, parent, School Counsellor or another adult for help
• Tell the adult everything
• Decide with the adult upon a plan
• Your plan of action may include speaking with a College Counsellor, Tutor or Homeroom teacher, Headmaster or Deputy Headmaster, Head of House and/or Year Level Coordinator
• Persevere until you find an adult who will help you with your problem.
• If you feel unable to speak to an adult, you can email the school bullybox at bullybox@stkevins.vic.edu.au
• If you feel unable to speak to an adult, you can contact Kids Help Line on 1800 55 1800 www.kidshelp.com.au or www.reachout.com.au

Consequences

Any boy found to be bullying another person by a member of staff may face a range of consequences. These range from detention to forfeiture of ones place at St Kevin’s College for severe repetitive offences. The College will deal very seriously with those who retaliate against someone for reporting incidents of bullying.

The specific types of consequences include:

• Parent notification and involvement
• Counselling
• Detention
• Suspension (in serious or repeated instances)
• Forfeiture of one place at St Kevin’s College (in cases of aggravated or persistent harassment)

If you are aware of other boys being bullied or harassed, then encourage them to speak to a teacher, School Counsellor, Chaplain or their parents.

What we do to prevent bullying

Staff will:

• Be role models in word and action at all times
• Be observant of signs of distress or suspected instances of bullying
• Supervise all interior and exterior areas to reduce opportunities for bullying
• Report suspected incidents to the appropriate staff member, tutor or House Head who will follow procedures as set down in the Staff Handbook
• Take steps to help the victim and address the situation with the bully without putting the victim at further risk
• Inform parents of the victim and bully, outlining procedures

Students will:

• Refuse to be involved in any bullying situation;
• Report any incident or suspected incident and help break down the code of secrecy. Report any incident or email bullybox@stkevins.vic.edu.au
• Respect the rights of all students and recognise their differences;
• Speak out and report incidents of bullying as it could ease his pain and prevent other students from being bullied;
• Be helpful bystanders. When you see bullying going on, ask yourself: “What can I do to help stop it?”

Parents are encouraged to:

• Watch for signs of distress in your son(s);
• Advise their son(s) to tell a staff member about the incident. Encourage their son(s) to report and deal with the problem himself as this empowers him to deal with the problem without parental involvement;
• Inform the College if bullying is suspected and continuing;
• Encourage their son(s) not to retaliate;
• Communicate to their son9s) that parental involvement may be deemed necessary by the College to fully address the problem;
• Attend interviews at the College if your son(s) is involved in a bullying incident as a victim or perpetrator.
• Make use of the bullybox email address to contact the College about bullying bullybox@stkevins.vic.edu.au