It was great to see so many people participating in 'Pink Shirt' day.

With our values of Whānaungatanga (Family) and Mahi Tahi (Collaboration) we always strive to be teaching our children to get along, accept one another and choose kindness in their actions. 

Pink Shirt Day is about working together to stop bullying by celebrating diversity and promoting kindness and inclusiveness.
It’s about creating a community where all people feel safe, valued and respected, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, religion or cultural background.

We embed lessons on 'Being mean' and 'Bullying' throughout our Health programmes; including 'Keeping Ourselves Safe' and 'Positive Behaviour for Learning.'  We are inviting you currently to give your thoughts on our Health curriculum. A notice will have come home last week with the eldest ion the family. You may still add your thoughts through the digital survey if you haven't already. 

Defining Bullying

Whether bullying is physical, verbal, or social (relational), four widely-accepted factors can be used to identify it:

• Bullying is deliberate - harming another person intentionally
• Bullying involves a misuse of power in a relationship
• Bullying is usually not a one-off - it is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated over time
• Bullying involves behaviour that can cause harm - it is not a normal part of growing up.

What is not bullying?

Bullying is a word often used to describe behaviour that is not actually bullying — not all verbal or physical aggression is bullying. For example:

• a one-off fight or argument, or difference of opinion between friends where there is no power imbalance and they can sort it out between themselves
• not liking someone or a single act of social rejection
• one-off acts of meanness or spite
• isolated incidents of aggression, intimidation or violence
• using sexist or racist terms but doesn’t mean to cause harm
• theft: taking someone else’s things once is theft but not necessarily bullying.

Please remember if you have any concerns regarding your child PLEASE come and discuss this with firstly your child's classroom teacher, then your Team Leader and finally the Principal. We are here to help.

Finally, every year the Board of Trustees engages the services of an independent person to complete my appraisal. This year Judith Catton will be visiting our school on Thursday and hearing from a number of people. If you wish to make contact with Judith, please contact Dee in the office and Judith will make a time to speak with you.

Ngā mihi mahana, (Warm greetings)

Wendy Huriwai

principal@southhornby.school.nz