Anti-Bullying Week 2022

Anti-Bullying Week 2022 is coordinated in England and Wales by the Anti-Bullying Alliance. It will take place from 14 to 18 November 2022 and has the theme Reach Out. The week will kick off with Odd Socks Day on Monday 14th November, where adults and children wear odd socks to celebrate what makes us all unique.

Information for Parents and Carers 

As a parent or carer, you are a vital piece of the puzzle in tackling bullying. You have a unique role to play in guiding and supporting your child through their school years and there are lots of positive steps you can take to help keep your child safe from bullying and harm. One of the steps is knowing when to ask for support. At the end of this resource produced by the Anti-Bullying Alliance, there are details of organisations like Kidscape who can help.

Anti-Bullying Week 2022 - A Tool for Parents and Carers 

Kidscape - Top Tips for Dealing with Bullying - for parents and carers

7 Day Kindness Challenge 

Anti-bullying week is the perfect time to focus on kindness. Can you complete a kind act each day?

  • Complete a kindness challenge each day. How did it make you feel?
  • There are also some small steps that make a big difference. Try to do all of these every day!
  • Take a look at a daily kindness question. These will help you discuss the importance of being a kind human.

Click here for the Kindness Challenge sheet. 

Odd Socks Day - Monday 14th November 

On Monday 14th November students are invited to wear odd socks as part of their school uniform to mark the beginning of Anti-Bullying Week 2022 (14th to 18th November). Odd Socks Day encourages people to express themselves and celebrate their individuality and what makes us all unique!

We are not collecting money on Monday but parents and staff are able to donate money to the Anti-Bullying Alliance if they wish. 

The theme for Anti-Bullying Week this year is Reach Out. Throughout the week the SWT will send students daily emails, copied to parents with information on bullying. If at any time students need to speak to someone, they should talk to their tutor, the Student Welfare Team or any member of staff.


Monday - What is Bullying? 

This year’s theme Reach Out aims to empower you to do something positive to counter harm and hurt that bullying causes.

Bullying and cyberbullying can mean lots of different things. It can happen anywhere, including online, at school or at home.

Bullying can include: 

  • being called names, teased or humiliated
  • posting, commenting on or liking nasty photos, videos or posts about you online
  • being pushed, hit or hurt
  • having money and other stuff stolen
  • spreading rumours or starting group chats about you
  • being ignored, left out or made to feel like you're not wanted
  • being threatened, intimidated or sent nasty messages
  • trolling you or commenting on your posts or pictures saying nasty things
  • someone revealing personal details without your permission
  • targeting you over and over again in an online game.

Tuesday - Treat Everyone with Respect 

We all know our Kendrick Pledge: We, the students, staff and friends of Kendrick School, pledge to uphold the values of friendship, kindness and respect. We promise to stand against prejudice, ignorance and injustice in all its forms, promoting the values of equality, tolerance and justice for all.

Nobody should be unkind to others.

  • Stop and think before you say or do something that could hurt someone.
  • If you feel like being mean to someone, find something else to do. Play a game, watch TV, or talk to a friend.
  • Talk to an adult you trust. They can help you find ways to be nicer to others.
  • Keep in mind that everyone is different. Not better or worse. Just different.  
  • If you think you have bullied someone in the past, apologise. Everyone feels better.

Remember: 

Wednesday - Dealing with Bullying 

Report it and block people
If someone’s harassing or bullying you online, you can report it on the site or app. Even if someone else has reported it, making a report yourself can make it more likely the content will be removed. Don't reply to abusive messages or posts as this can make things worse.
 

Keep evidence
Keep a diary of what's been happening and when, and take screenshots of online messages. This can help you prove what's been happening.

Tell someone at school
If you’re being bullied by people at school, we will support you. If you have screenshots or evidence of what's been happening, show them to a teacher you trust or contact the Student Welfare Team in the General Office or by emailing studentwelfare@kendrick.reading.sch.uk

Practise being assertive
Being assertive means standing up for yourself without being aggressive. It can help you feel more confident and in control when someone's bullying you.

Get support from someone you trust
You don’t have to cope with bullying alone. Talking to an adult you trust can help you to find ways to stop the bullying. If you don’t know who to talk to, talk to Childline.

Take a break from checking messages
It’s natural to want to see what people are saying when they’re bullying you. But taking time away from your phone or device, even for a few minutes, can help you to feel calmer.

Thursday - Supporting Someone who is Being Bullied 

It can be difficult to know where to start with helping someone who's being bullied. But just a few words of support and showing that you care can make a massive difference.

  • Let them know you're there for them
    Listening and letting someone who's being bullied know you're there if they want to chat can make a massive difference. Chatting to them regularly and saying you're there for them can help them feel less alone.
  • Help them to get support
    You could offer to go with them to report the bullying and help them think about what they want to say. Or you could help them report it on social media.
  • Think before you like or comment on something
    Liking, sharing or commenting on a post designed to bully someone can make it more popular and visible, even if you're not supporting it. Don't respond to a post, even if you're not sure if it's meant to bully someone. 
  • Help to distract them
    Help them to take their mind off things for a short while. You could watch a film, play sports or a game together.
  • Be positive around people
    Whether it's posting positive things online, or being friendly to people at school, being positive can help lots of people to feel better.

Friday will be ‘Friendship Friday’. There will be a special ‘Reach Out a Hand’ activity in The Base at lunchtime on Friday. Everyone is welcome to come and take part and help share positivity and friendship.

Friday - Friendship Friday! 

Friendship Friday is an opportunity for us to celebrate friendship and promote positive relationships. 

Qualities of a good friend: 

  • They laugh with you not at you. 
  • They are reliable. 
  • They are trustworthy. 
  • They listen. 
  • They don’t talk about you behind your back. 
  • They are happy for you. 
  • They don’t mind you having other friends. 
  • They don’t make you say or do anything you don’t want to. 
  • They understand all friends disagree sometimes and can say sorry. 

Friendship or Frenemy 

Friend: 

  • Listening to your problems and helping you work through solutions. 
  • Feeling happy for you when things go well. 

Frenemy

  • Saying “honest” things which are actually unkind or hurtful. Laughing at you, or encouraging others to laugh at you. 
  • Sharing embarrassing photos or videos of you in an online group. 
  • Saying it’s just ‘banter’ even if they can see you’re upset. 

Help! I think I have a frenemy…. or I might be a frenemy to others sometimes 

If you have a frenemy…remember: the problem isn’t you. Their behaviour might make you feel bad, but they need to change, not you.  

  • Talk to them about how they make you feel. 
  • Explain calmly what they have done and the impact it is having. For example: “I feel upset when you say that about my hair.” 
  • Tell them what you’d like to happen – for example, setting a boundary such as certain topics being off-limits. 
  • How they react will tell you a lot.  If they say sorry, give them a chance. 
  • If they carry on, it’s time to find those good friends you deserve. 

If you are being a frenemy to others, it’s time to change.   We all make mistakes. Say sorry if you need to.  Think carefully about your actions and the impact they have on others. If you need help to stop, talk to someone you trust. 

Remember:

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