Bullying is a word that can have a lot of different meanings for different people. Making sure everyone in our school shares the same definition of bullying is important.

Bullying is deliberate - harming another person intentionally.

Bullying involves a misuse of power in a relationship.

Bullying is repeated.

Not every unkind thing is bullying. Students, especially young children, are still learning how to get along with others. They need parents, teachers and other adults to model kindness, inclusion, conflict resolution and responsibility.

Single incidents and conflicts or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying. These behaviours may be just as upsetting, but may need to be dealt with in a different way. 

At Westburn Te Kura O Hereora we encourage respect, value opinions, celebrate differences, and promote positive relationships. This makes it difficult for bullying behaviour to thrive or be tolerated. To achieve this  needs everyone - students, staff, parents, and whānau - working together. 

Oat the Goat is an engaging, pick-a-path story. It follows Oat as he embarks on the adventure of his life and he meets some surprising new friends along the way. This story is designed to help students see the power of kindness.