St. Canice’s Co- Ed N.S.
Granges Road
Kilkenny

Telephone : 056 –7762150
Fax : 056 – 7762895
E –Mail : stcanice.ias@eircom.net

Chairperson : Fr. James Murphy
Principal: Mrs Maria Comerford

Title

Anti Bullying Policy

Introductory Statement

The following policy is a review of the existing Anti Bullying Policy of St. Canice’s Co.-Ed N.S..The review process included consultation with teachers, parents, pupils and Board of Management.

Aims
To provide an environment that is caring and respectful, promoting personal growth and self-esteem

To create a school ethos which encourages children to disclose and discuss incidents of bullying behaviour.

To raise awareness of bullying as a form of unacceptable behaviour with school management, teaching and non-teaching staff, pupils and parents/guardians

To develop procedures for investigating and dealing with incidents of bullying behaviour.

Guidelines

Definition

Bullying is repeated aggression, causing embarrassment, pain or discomfort to another. Isolated incidents of aggressive behaviour would not be described as bullying. However, when the behaviour is systematic and ongoing, it is bullying.

? It can take a number of forms: physical, psychological, verbal, gesture, extortion and exclusion.
? It is an abuse of power.
? It can be planned and organised or it may be unconscious
? Individuals or groups may be involved.
?

Types of bullying include:
? Name Calling
? Isolation
? Slagging
? Physical aggression
? Intimidation
? Extortion
? Damage to personal property
? Abusive Telephone Calls and Text Messaging

General Principles:
? The school promotes qualities of social responsibility, tolerance and understanding among all its members, both in school and out of school.
? The school acknowledges the uniqueness of each individual and his/her worth as a human being
? The school acknowledges the right of each member of the school community to enjoy a secure learning environment
? The school disapproves of vulgar, offensive, sectarian and or other aggressive behaviour by any of its members
? Staff members share a collegiate responsibility under the direction of the Principal teacher, to act in preventing bullying/aggressive behaviour by any member of the school
? Parents have a crucial role to play in the promotion of good behaviour, and in the sense of self-respect and respect for others, in their children.
? Co-operation and communication between home and school are essential elements in preventing and dealing with bullying.

Positive Strategies:

Teachers can influence attitudes to bullying behaviour in a positive manner through a range of curricular initiatives e.g.

1. The Core Curriculum provides an opportunity to promote good
Behaviour and to discuss with the children strategies for dealing with bullying behaviour.

2. The S.P.H.E. Programme will also be used to address the problem of
Bullying behaviour

3. Teachers will use other areas of the curriculum where appropriate.

4. From time to time ,the school will arrange awareness – raising activities on discipline in general and on countering bullying behaviour in particular.

5.The school will encourage children and parents to report instances of bullying.

Procedures for Noting and Reporting incidents of Bullying Behaviour.

1.Incidents should be reported by child/parents to the teacher on yard, class teacher, Principal.

2. Incidents will be noted by class teacher. Teacher on yard, other staff members and principal to keep class teacher informed.

3. Class teacher will alert other staff members to any possible problems.

4. Class teacher keeps record of incident and action taken.

5. Incidents will be investigated by the teacher and appropriate action taken: e.g.sanctions applied and /or curriculum intervention.

6..If the teacher feels that a worrying pattern of behaviour is emerging, or a single incident warrants it, the matter will be referred to the principal.

7.Principal investigates and if principal and teacher consider it necessary parents informed and called in.

8. Parents of bully and victim will be interviewed separately by principal and/or teacher(s).
[If a gang is involved, children will be interviewed separately and together]

9. Staff informed.

10. The situation will continue to be monitored to ensure that the problem has been resolved.(by principal, class teacher, staff).

11.Where cases remain unresolved at schools level, the matter may be referred to the Board of Management.

12. In the case of a complaint regarding a staff member or parent, this should normally in the first instance be raised with the staff member/ parent in question and if necessary with the Principal.

In the case of a complaint against the Principal, this should be raised with the Principal and, if necessary, the chairman of the B.O.M.