Successful students are not only those who measure well on academic testing, qualify for representative sporting teams, or perform well at Eisteddfods and competitions.

In my mind, successful students are also those who live by and demonstrate values of kindness, inclusivity, respect and selflessness.

At Foxwell State Secondary College we reinforce our strong belief in integrity and explain to students that they need to do the right thing whether someone is watching or not.

We don’t believe that students waiting for the external control of adults will allow them to develop into the types of adults our community and world needs.

Our Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students outlines our SPIRIT values and our clear expectations around behaviour in all settings within our school, and also those that are external to our school, which negatively impact on our students.

We teach and embed this in our lessons and our interactions around the school on a daily basis. We are aware that a small number of students are not living by our SPIRIT values and our expectations and we continue to address these behaviours immediately and involve students and parents in the way forward.

I encourage all parents/carers to take time to reinforce these values and expectations at home so that at school ALL children can feel safe, supported and able to learn without interruption in our school environment.

Whilst we address negative comments, harassment and bullying as soon as we become aware here at Foxwell, we need the support of our community to truly make a difference to this significant issue facing society.

Too often we refer to these insults and negative comments as ‘banter’ when we hear them in our home or parks, but this is not acceptable.

It becomes too difficult for young people to distinguish between what is ok to say at home to their brother and sister, compared to what then is deemed harassment and bullying at school.

The same goes for rough play at home which can be seen as physical assault at school, or swearing or using offensive language at home which is then unacceptable at school.

Let’s work together to address this, as too often I hear from students and parents, that the behaviour they are being suspended for at school is what is ‘normal’ for them at home.

Professor Barbara Spear, an Australian, University bullying expert, states that “Our community attitudes toward aggression and bullying and what we model to children and young people really do matter.”

“We need to recognise the links between bullying, wellbeing and mental health, and appreciate that bullying is physically harmful, socially isolating and psychologically damaging for all involved, including bystanders.

 “All of us have a role to play in reducing bullying, harassment, aggression and violence in the community, which will be reflected in how our students behave in schools in the future.”

By no means are we shying away from our responsibility to address harassment, bullying and violence when it occurs in our school. We believe we can make more of a difference to the future of our school and broader community if we all work together.

Until next week

Kym Amor