Dear Parents

Recently I received an email from a distressed parent who had decided to withdraw a child from the school. The child had been, “subjected to taunts and nasty comments, while seemingly petty and pathetic” has destroyed the child’s confidence. Unfortunately, the family chose not to inform the school of the situation.

At McAuley Catholic Central School we:

• Are committed to providing a safe, caring and inclusive learning environment for everyone
• Maintain that everyone has the right to be free from all forms of bullying and harassment
• Encourage and positively reinforce behaviours, which show care, courtesy and consideration
• Empower students and parents about issues related to bullying through education programs
• Offer support to all students through its pastoral care system and the pastoral care role of all teachers.

Restorative Justice is a framework aimed at bringing about behavioural change for the individual while keeping schools and communities safe. The aim of restorative programs is to reintegrate those affected by wrongdoing back into the community as resilient and responsible members. Restorative justice is a form of conflict resolution and seeks to make it clear to the offender that the behaviour is not condoned, at the same time as being supportive and respectful of the individual.

Restorative Justice supports the Behaviour Management, Pastoral Care Policy and the Anti Bullying Policies of McAuley Catholic Central School. Restorative Justice is a process that provides an opportunity for students to accept responsibility for their behaviour and to repair harm or damage done to other people and/or property.

• It provides a positive shaming experience for the student who has harmed others through bullying or other inappropriate behaviour.
• It allows behaviour to be corrected in a positive way.
• The consequence for inappropriate behaviour is negotiated between the perpetrator and the victim with a support person present for each.
• Students are supported in their efforts to develop more appropriate behaviour, while understanding the seriousness of their actions.
• It allows the person/s harmed to talk about the impact of the perpetrators actions on them.
• The process rebuilds relationships and allows students and teachers to resolve conflict. These principles can be applied to a range of behaviours in schools.
• The core principles relating to bullying are: 1. Bullying and being bullied are ways of behaving that can be changed. 2. Addressing wrongdoing, such as bullying, concerns actions and should not involve the denigration of the whole person. 3. The harm done by bullying to self and others must be acknowledged. 4. Reparation for the harm done is essential; and 5. Both bullies and victims are valued members of the school community whose supportive ties with others should be strengthened through participation in communities of care.

Kind regards to you all,

Rodney Little.