4th September 2012 Reflection Grace Grace is always and everywhere available to us. It is only we ourselves who prevent it from transforming us more truly into that image of God in which we were first created. God’s gracious gifts surround us on every side. It is important to remember that grace does not only travel on fine days. On wintry evenings, especially, grace is never far away. By this I mean that very often the greatest strides in holiness are made in the darker happenings of our lives. (Daniel O’Leary 1998)
A great deal has been reported in recent times about the escalating incidents and impact of bullying, in particular cyber bullying. Things students can do if victims of cyber bullying include:
Be careful who you trust and make ‘friends’ with online Set your profile to ‘private’ Always keep your password a secret Don’t open messages from people you don’t know Don’t respond to any nasty or offensive comments in a chat room Keep a copy of any nasty, offensive or intimidating message you are sent Think before you post information online – once posted it can’t be taken back Ask parents before providing your name, address or any personal details online
I would encourage parents to access the following website for valuable tips and information: http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/Parents.aspx
We had an absolute blast with the Year 7 & 8 cohorts and were really impressed by their enthusiasm, insight and empathy. Each session was highly interactive, strengths-based and fun, with a real focus on allowing students to experience learning through activities, discussion and real-life stories (rather than being formally taught). Rather than dealing with labels of 'bullies' and 'victims,' the approach placed an emphasis on the role of the bystander and the responsibility to stand up to bullying and be counted. The program presented real and in-touch strategies and examined a range of related issues, including social labels, personal values, judgement and leadership. Below is some of the feedback from the students: Thanks for the helpful tips today. I thought it helped a lot. This is an awesome program! CRC students loved it and you had some great things to share. Thank you. Industrial Action
As a school we act on incidents of bullying when we become aware of them. Support programs have also been put in place to educate and inform students about the impact of bullying. Over the past two weeks all Year 7 and 8 students have been involved in a program designed to address the issues of bullying and building positive relationships called PROJECT ROCKIT www.projectrockit.com.au The presenters, Lucy and Adam, were energetic, enthusiastic and quickly got the students involved. Lucy commented to me via email:
A reminder that due to Industrial action, Year 9 students are not required at the College tomorrow. Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews A reminder that Thursday 13th September will be a student free day.
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