On Monday 20 June Hannah Hanson, our 2016 Head Girl, presented the following speech at whole school assembly to launch her anti-bullying initiative.

Hi I am Hannah, and as part of the year7/8 homework challenges last year I decided to put together a project to help highlight anti-bullying and how wrong it is, and some ideas to help reduce it in the school.

As part of my research I found that all schools have bullying to some degree, and a lot is already done at our school to help reduce bullying and report bullying. But - I got thinking that as students we shouldn't just accept it, and we need to do more ourselves to stop it happening. We need to all take a stand against bullying when we see it, and help support those that are being bullied.

With this idea I designed an anti bullying initiative which I was lucky enough to present first to Miss O'Connor and Mr Ladbrook and then to the senior leadership team and Mrs Trotter and Mrs Martin. From there it was decided that the school would actually run this initiative this year.

We started with the pink shirt day for anti-bullying week, and this will continue into term 3 with the launch of my anti bullying wristbands along with some more information about why people bully, and how to take a stand against bullying. We are hoping you will all get behind it to help us reduce bullying. The idea is based around one student taking a stand and it getting others on board, growing and growing the idea until we have a large number within the school (hopefully all the school) all prepared to not tolerate bullying, to make sure everyone knows we don't tolerate bullying and how stupid it really is, and that we are all willing to help each other. These bands are in the process of being made at the moment and will be available to buy early next term.

The price for each band is $2 and they will be available in two colour choices. The idea is to buy a band or two, or more and wear it, showing you are prepared to take a stand. It will show you are against bullying, will not be a bully yourself, and are there to help take a stand against bullying here at Oaklands. The money raised will go to the ‘Whats up’ Help line- which is a helpline kids and teens can ring when they need to talk to someone. We will be launching the bands early next term so start thinking about getting involved.