Primary Classroom Workshops on Bullying and Self Esteem

Last week, our Head of School Gina Bianchi and our Head of Early Years and Safeguarding Morgane Sherlen met with students from PY2 to PY6 to discuss the important issues of friendships, bullying and self esteem. 

On Monday, Gina led a session with the students to help them reflect on and understand the differences between teasing, conflict, and bullying, as well as how the school addresses each of these behaviors. The students also learned about the roles of bystanders and upstanders, and how every student can report anything they see or hear that makes them feel worried or scared, whether for themselves or others, to a trusted adult.

Gina shares: "It was crucial to start the school year by clearly defining our bullying policy to our staff, parents, and students, so that everyone feels informed and supported in recognizing, addressing, and preventing bullying. By setting clear expectations and fostering open communication, we aim to create a safe and inclusive environment where every student feels valued and protected."

On Tuesday, Morgane visited the classrooms to introduce herself as the ICS Safeguarding Leader. She encouraged students to ask questions and spoke about the connection between identity and self-esteem. To illustrate this, she shared several French books that explore these important themes.

Morgane shares: “The story written by Baptiste Beaulieu shows us how important it is to know how to say no, to be yourself and no one else. Respecting your identity and not erasing parts of yourself to please others is a lifelong lesson. Through this story, students also learn that it can sometimes be difficult for adults to say no as well.”