Bullying and Harrassment

Unfortunately aspects of bullying and harrassment can be found in all walks of life from our parliamentarians through all levels of society. Ideally there should be no bullying or harrassment, but human nature being as it is means that there is always some degree present.

Parents along with schools are responsible for building resilience in children so they are able to withstand minor issues. Building coping strategies is important, but if a problem continues it is wise to pass this information on to school staff to resolve so it does not get out of hand.

Queanbeyan High is using a process called A Method of Shared Concern in dealing with matters of bullying . This strategy resolves ongoing issues between the bully and the victim. There are a number of levels in this program and it has proven quite successful.

Electronic Equipment and Personal Items

Parents are encouraged to assist their children to keep abreast of new technologies such as MP3s, mobile phones, etc if they are able to provide these.

Parents and students need to be aware that not all students will be able to afford such items and it is impossible to protect personal equipment in all circumstances.

If possible names or identification should be attached to any personal item.

If parents wish to provide their child with expensive equipment such as an $800 mobile phone it is advisable that such equipment not be brought to school. Instead a cheaper phone could also be purchased and the SIM card be swapped to the least expensive phone for emergency use at school and then changed into the more expensive one at home.

Similarly a $600 MP3 player should be kept at home and only a $60 to $80 MP3 player be used for travel to and from school. Songs can easily be bluetoothed from one player to another.

These strategies can limit any prospect of theft or breakage.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Queanbeyan Drug Action Team wish to advise of a number of websites that are devoted to making parents and teenagers aware of the problems of teenage binge drinking.

The guides provide quality information on the risks associated with risky drinking of alcolhol.Both teenagers and parents need reliable,trustworthy and balanced information and this is whatthis resource provides.

The guides can be found at:

www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au/drugs_action/

A supporting website is:

www.whatRUdoing2URself.com

Queanbeyan High School