Pupils celebrate Anti-Bullying Week 2020

Since Monday, pupils from the Nursery through to F6 (S6) have taken part in a range of activities coinciding with the theme of this year’s event, ‘United Against Bullying’.

Led by the school’s Anti-Bullying Ambassadors (pupils who have received Diana Award training), pupils in the Senior Years sought to promote and celebrate difference through positivity, kindness, respect and inclusivity.

All week positive and motivational quotes were placed on display to inspire positive behaviour, kindness and respect, while pupils also took part in compliment-paying and personal goal-setting exercises.

In addition, the youngsters participated in a special Kahoot Quiz created and run by the Anti-Bullying Ambassadors (some of whom are pictured above), as well as attending an anti-bullying themed virtual assembly (again, run by the Ambassadors) and embracing the encouragement to engage in random acts of kindness.   

In the Junior Years, the spotlight was also on kindness with the children asked to do something kind or share if someone was kind to them and then record it on a heart sticker for display in the school.

The pupils also used poetry to reflect upon the message of kindness instead of hate, before using the analogy of odd socks to embrace each other’s differences and the mantra that being different is good.

Meanwhile, children in the Nursery listened to a story called Be Kind, took part in well-being games and activities which focused upon the importance of being a good friend and being kind, and documented some of their ideas before putting them together to create a Kindness Tree.

The events culminated in Feel Good Friday, in which pupils across the school each made a donation to the Dundee mental health charity Feeling Strong to take part in a non-uniform day, with Junior Years pupils adding even more colour to the occasion by donning odd socks.

Senior Years pupils also marked the day with a series of (Covid-safe) fun activities in the playground, including Beat the Goalie, a house team hockey dribble challenge, target throwing, and a rock, papers, scissors challenge.

And to round everything off, pupils and staff have been invited to take part in Feeling Strong’s, Covid -friendly Brave the Cold charity walk from the V&A to Broughty Castle this weekend.

Louise Baxter, Guidance and PE teacher, who has been co-ordinating the event, said, “As a community, we aspire to celebrate our differences every day through our words and actions and strive to be positive, kind, respectful and inclusive in all that we do.

“However, national Anti-Bullying week has brought to the forefront of our minds the negative effects/impact of any form of unpleasant behaviour on individuals and their mental wellbeing. We have been able to focus on the power of positivity and kindness instead and this week’s activities have provided the opportunity to promote a culture of respect and inclusivity.

“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our team of Anti-Bullying Ambassadors for their creative ideas and the time spent planning and running this week’s event. We are hugely proud of them.”