Anti-Bullying

WOODLANDS INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STRONGLY OPPOSES BULLYING.  

CHILDREN HAVE THE RIGHT TO:

  • Be loved and protected from harm, and the responsibility to show others love and respect.
  • Be listened to and taken seriously, and the responsibility to listen to and be supportive of others.
  • Be proud of our differences, heritage and beliefs, and the responsibility to respect the differences, origins, and beliefs of others.
  • Be happy participating in all activities whether cultural, academic, or sporting, and the responsibility to respect the different interests of others.

WOODLANDS INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE AIMS TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT WHERE:

  • Individual differences are appreciated, understood, and accepted.
  • Individuals empathise with each other and offer one another support.
  • Bullying is reported to the staff and the necessary steps are taken by the staff to eliminate such 
  • behaviour.

BULLYING IS AN UNACCEPTABLE FORM OF SOCIAL INTERACTION, WHICH PHYSICALLY AND/OR EMOTIONALLY DAMAGES ANOTHER PERSON.  

FORMS OF BULLYING INCLUDE:

  • PHYSICAL – kicking, hitting, punching, pushing, slapping, bumping, tripping, damaging property or taking the possessions of others (stealing), forcing others to give you things or do things they do not wish to do.
  • VERBAL – teasing, mocking, ridiculing, imitating, threatening, name calling, swearing, insulting friends, family, beliefs and religion, spreading rumours, ‘putting down’, unpleasant and/or abusive telephone calls, text messages or online abuse.
  • PSYCHOLOGICAL – threatening or dominating a person, ostracising people from games and other activities, ignoring or avoiding people, ganging up on a person, rude gestures, sending unpleasant and/or lewd messages on social media platforms.

All of the above would refer to situations which would be on a continuous or repeated basis and not just singular or once off incidents. 

IF YOU ARE BULLIED YOU SHOULD:

  • Tell the person to stop and that such behaviour is unacceptable.
  • Walk away and join another group of people if possible.
  • Report it to a teacher.
  • Place a written account of the incident in an envelope and address it to a teacher or the Principal. (Indicate should you wish to remain anonymous.)

IF YOU WITNESS SOMEONE BEING BULLIED YOU SHOULD:

  • Take it seriously.
  • Tell the person to stop and that such behaviour is unacceptable.
  • Walk away and join another group of people if possible, while assisting and removing the person being bullied.
  • Report it to a teacher.
  • Place a written account of the incident in an envelope and address it to a teacher or the Principal. (Indicate should you wish to remain anonymous).

STEPS TO BE FOLLOWED IN THE CASE OF AN INCIDENT OF BULLYING: 

  • Cases of bullying will be dealt with initially by the class teacher and be reported to the HOD and then the Principal / Deputy Principal.
  • Continued bullying issues will be dealt with by the Principal / Deputy Principal
  • Incidents will be investigated in the strictest confidence.
  • All persons involved will be interviewed separately to gain an unbiased opinion, by a hearing from both parties.
  • Parents of both parties will be contacted and informed of the incident.
  • The following initial disciplinary measures could be taken:
    • The withdrawal of privileges, including the participation in extra-mural activities or any form of socialization with peers, as well as suspension from the classroom.
    • Counselling sessions may be suggested.
    • A disciplinary hearing may be held with a view to full suspension from the College.
  • Any disciplinary action taken is at the discretion of the Principal and will be implemented on a case-by-case basis.