Bullying should not be tolerated anywhere, schools work or home. This in from the council. Ed
Schools across the Isle of Wight are holding special events to mark national Anti-Bullying Week (15 – 19 November 2010).
To send out a strong message that bullying is not acceptable in schools and communities, a series of special lessons and assemblies are taking place throughout the week.
Gurnard, Brighstone, Summerfields, Oakfield and Yarmouth Primary Schools are holding special assemblies, while St Mary’s and St Thomas’ Primary Schools are using role play, designing leaflets and creating posters as they explore the issue of bullying throughout the week. Newport CE Primary School is celebrating a ‘Friendship Friday’ and Arreton Primary is holding a ‘Relaxation Week’, themed around ‘looking after ourselves’ and ‘thinking of others’.
School visits
The Police are visiting Sandham Middle School to take part in a special assembly highlighting issues around anti-social behaviour.
Lake and Solent Middle Schools are holding special assemblies and Solent is issuing information to parents about how to recognise bullying and how to support their child. West Wight Middle School has already held drama workshops about bullying with the Red Tie Theatre Company but is holding special discussion sessions during tutor times throughout Anti-Bullying Week.
All schools on the Isle of Wight have an anti-bullying strategy and take a strong stance against all forms of bullying. They are supported by the council, which co-ordinates anti-bullying activities and arranges campaigns across the Island with partner agencies.
Anti-bullying strategies
This year, the Isle of Wight Council has worked with schools and partner agencies to offer advice and deliver activities designed to support children and parents affected by bullying.
Successful schemes delivered to date include an e-safety and social networking awareness campaign to highlight cyber-bullying, programmes to improve self esteem including the Fire Service’s LIFE programme and sailing at UKSA. Play Rangers have been allocated to known bullying hotspots to run group play activities for young people and a Challenge Programme has been run for ten young people identified as bullies. Alongside these activities, 1:1 support has also been made available by school nurses to advise young people on protective behaviours.
Cllr Dawn Cousins, Isle of Wight Council Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “Bullying is not acceptable in any form and Anti-Bullying Week provides schools and organisations across the Island with the opportunity to reinforce this message. The council is committed to tackling bullying and through its work with partners is delivering a range of activities to support victims and tackle the causes of bullying.”
Image: WTL Photos under CC BY 2.0
