Students unite to stand up to school bullies

Students across Rockingham will take a stand against schoolyard bullies on Friday as part of the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence.

The day gives schools across Australia a chance to strengthen their own programs and messages by saying “Bullying, No Way”.

Rockingham Beach Primary School is one of 12 schools in the area taking part.

Deputy principal Sue Magowan said learning about bullying helped students develop “life skills”.

“We teach students good values and it’s about being inclusive and making students feel safe at school, which is our aim,” she said.

Mrs Magowan said on Friday every class would take part in national online activities which would reinforce their health education topics.

“Friday’s lessons are very much about the role of the bystander in bullying and it is probably an area we haven’t covered in depth before, so this is a really good time to talk to the kids about it and let them know that watching isn’t OK and they have a role as a bystander to help,” she said.

Year 6 student Charlotte Selby, 11, said striving to be compassionate to others created a fun environment.

“You make friends by being compassionate and not leaving anybody out,” she said. Fellow student Kasey Tew, 11, said she had learnt what to do if she ran into trouble in the playground.

“Ignore it at first, but if you can’t deal with it yourself, get help. Don’t do it back to them because it will just make it worse,” she said.