This week is Bullying No Way: National Week of Action. The 2024 theme is Everyone Belongs which seeks to highlight belonging as an antidote to the prevalence of violence and hatred in the world. When we feel like we belong and stand together against unkindness, bullying struggles to find a place. 

At St Joseph’s School we strive to provide a safe and supportive environment for all, where students can achieve their best in their learning and grow to be the best people they can be. Importantly, we are keen to ensure that every student at St Joseph’s School has an opportunity to be able to say: “I belong. I am valued. I will be successful here.”

To create and continually maintain this environment we rely on all in community living out our Mercy Values, that is, acting in a Christlike way.

However, being human, there are times when some students choose to do the wrong thing. When that happens, to varying degrees, it harms the wrongdoer’s growth and can harm the students around them. It certainly harms our safe and supportive environment.

When a student does the ‘wrong’ thing, our philosophy is to work with those wrongdoers to rectify their behaviour and help them to make the right choices in future. We also need to ensure the safety and wellbeing of anyone affected by that behaviour. (For more detail about how we manage behaviour, please refer to our Behaviour Support Plan which is available on our website (or visit the link below).

Maintaining our safe and supportive environment, whilst helping students to grow as good human beings, is a real challenge if we all (students, staff, parents and carers) don’t work together for “the greater good”.

Sometimes working towards the greater good means showing great courage and bucking social norms. One of those norms is, “don’t be a snitch!”. This norm often discourages reporting of wrongdoing and can allow harm to continue. In my experience, too often saying nothing leads to harm that can be avoided.

A balanced approach to reporting wrongdoing plays a crucial role in maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all students. When children report serious issues like bullying, cheating or unsafe behaviour, they are helping to protect their peers and create a more positive school culture. In this context it is also important to teach children the difference between tattling over minor disputes and speaking up about genuinely harmful situations. This balance ensures that students understand when it’s appropriate to seek help from an adult.

Reporting wrongdoing isn't about creating a culture of fear or distrust; it's about empowering students to stand up for what’s right. By encouraging students to speak out against harmful behaviour, we promote accountability and reinforce the importance of rules designed to keep everyone safe. However, as a school we are very aware it’s equally important to protect those who report wrongdoing, ensuring that these students are supported, not ostracized, and that their concerns are taken seriously.

We (parents, carers, students and the school) must work together to foster an environment where reporting is seen as a responsible and courageous act. When children know they will be supported and that their actions can make a difference, they are more likely to contribute to a safer, more inclusive school community. I ask that all parents and carers support the school in making this happen. It is for the greater good.

God Bless