Promoting Respect and Addressing Bullying

Our Commitment

We are committed to providing a safe, caring and respectful environment where every student is empowered to learn and grow. Hence, the school takes a firm stance against all forms of hurtful behaviour or bullying. We build a culture of kindness and understanding by fostering positive relationships amongst students and between teacher and student, establishing strong peer support structures and having regular interactions with students and staff.

We recognise that children may have disagreements or say things they do not mean. We will help students understand the difference between occasional conflicts (which are normal) and persistent bullying behaviour through Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) lessons, focusing on empathy, conflict management, resilience and cyber wellness.

When acts of hurtful behaviour or bullying occur, we are committed to addressing each situation with care and appropriate support to help everyone involved learn, take responsibility and restore relationships whilst carefully considering the victim's well-being and addressing the underlying factors contributing to the perpetrator's behaviour.

Definition of Hurtful Behaviour and Bullying

Hurtful behaviours are unkind and hurtful acts that can range from once-off insensitive remarks, actions or physical fights to more persistent and intentional acts of bullying, and even physical violence. Hurtful behaviours and bullying can take various forms, including verbal, social, physical and cyber.

Reporting and Investigation

We want parents and students to feel comfortable coming to us with any concerns. Students, parents, and staff may report any incidents of hurtful behaviour and bullying directly to the teachers, counsellors, or school leaders or through the Online Confidential Reporting Form. (See below on Getting in Touch)

All reports will be taken seriously and handled with care and confidentiality. The school will ensure the immediate physical and psychological safety of all students involved, investigate each case promptly, and provide timely updates, subject to case complexity. We will also partner parents in the process, including informing parents at the earliest opportunity.

Support, Restorative Approach, Educative Measures and Consequences

We will provide support for any student affected by hurtful behaviour and bullying, including school counselling, implementing safety and support plans as well as conducting regular check-ins. Where appropriate, we use restorative practices such as guided conversations or mediation as well as tapping on external referrals and community resources to help students understand the impact of their actions, make amends and mend relationships as well as learn prosocial skills.

While our primary focus is on guidance and education, repeated or serious hurtful behaviour and bullying may lead to consequences such as detention, suspension, conduct grade adjustment or other disciplinary actions which will be appropriate and proportionate to the situation. (See also section on Discipline Policy)

Working with Parents

We believe in strong partnership with parents to shape student character. Parents are encouraged to

• Model positive behaviours in your own interactions, teach respectful behaviours and reinforce healthy digital habits at home e.g., use ‘teachable moments’ to explain why certain behaviour is inappropriate

• Interact regularly with your child about school experiences and friendship

• Monitor your child’s online and offline interactions and activities

• Share concerns promptly with your child’s Form Teachers or Year Head and work collaboratively with the school on agreed interventions

Getting in Touch

We are here to listen and help. If you would like to bring an incident to our attention, you can reach out to us via any of the following methods:

• Inform the Form Teacher, HOD/Student Management, Year Head or School Leaders

• Call: +65 6893 3297

• Email: ccss@moe.edu.sg

• [Non-urgent cases only] Online Incident Report Form for Hurtful Behaviours at chr.sg/help (opens in new tab)

We review this policy regularly to make sure it continues to serve our school community well. Together, as a school community, we shape our students’ character, strengthen relationships, and build caring communities.