National Day of Action activities for schools

Whole school activity ideas

Planning for the day

• Set up a National Day of Action group that includes students, staff and parents to plan and promote the day.
• Download the 2013 National Day of Action poster (PDF, 498KB) and put it up around your school.
• Engage the local community in the lead up period. Consider support agencies, respected elders, universities, local council and businesses, high profile individuals and local media representatives.
• Host a community event to increase understanding about the positive action your school is taking in relation to bullying, and to build support for National Day of Action promotional activities. Use the resources to create invitations.
• Meet up with other schools in the area to share ideas and organise a coordinated approach.
• Ask students to re-write the definition of bullying and the school's anti-bullying policy in their own words for different age groups.
• Invite students, teachers and parents to each contribute one idea to address bullying. Collate all the answers and create a document to be presented to the school on the National Day.
• Invite peer mentors to make presentations about dealing with bullying in the transition to high school.
• Hold an anti-bullying poetry, poster, art or song competition - involve members of the broader community to present prizes on the National Day
• Plan for a series of anti-bullying assembles in the week leading up to the National Day. Different groups of students could lead assembly each day.
• Create a National Day of Action school magazine, in your school or together with the local schools.
• Create art or a performance that students can showcase at school or a local community venue on the National Day.

On the day

• Encourage staff, students and parents to take a stand together.
• Encourage teachers, students and parents to visit the Bullying. No Way! website
• Encourage students to download the free iPhone app Take a Stand that has information and stories on how to manage bullying as well as an avatar game.
• Invite parents and community members to school to celebrate the day with school community activities (breakfast, student performance, presentation etc...).
• After the National Day send Bullying. No Way! a photo showing students Taking a Stand Together to be posted to the NEW Take a Stand Together Photo Gallery. Important information for schools who want to submit a photo is available at Send a Photo to Bullying. No Way!

Classroom activity ideas

Planning for the day

• Use the Stand Together 2013 lesson plans page in the lead up to the National Day.
• Explore the Take a Stand Together website and work with your students to complete the student engagement activities or use the student and YouTube videos to generate discussion and reflection.
• Check out the resources for the classroom on the Bullying. No Way! teacher portal for lesson ideas.
• Invite your class to consider which of the whole school activities you can participate in or lead.
• Check out the cyber(smart:) resources including cyberbullying lesson plans for children ranging in ages from 5 to 17.
• Book a video or phone session for your class with a Kids Helpline Counselor as part of the Kids Helpline @ School Project. Make a booking to access teacher resources and session guidelines.
• Register to participate in a Cybersmart Hero session where your students can work online, and in real time, liaising with community professionals to respond to cyberbullying issues.

On the day

• Encourage students to visit the Take a Stand Together website where they can build an avatar and use other resources.
• Encourage students to download the free iPhone app that includes resources on how to manage bullying and an avatar game.
• Participate in the supporters activities.

Parent activity ideas

• Visit the parent portal on the Bullying. No Way! website to get ideas on how to support your child as a target or bystander of bullying, or if they are displaying bullying behaviour.
• Find out how you can work with your child's school to manage bullying.
• Consider activities you'd like to lead or be a part of at your child's school.
• Visit the Cybersmart website to get ideas on how to safely guide your child's online experiences.
• Encourage your child to visit the Kids Helpline website and let your child know its ok to contact them if they want to talk to someone else.

Student activity ideas

Find out what activities your school is doing to prepare for the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence on March 15, 2013 and get involved!

• Talk to your teacher, school leaders or principal about ideas listed under whole school activities and classroom activities.
• Check out the Take a Stand Together website and find out ways to manage bullying and take a stand together with other students.
• Download the free iPhone app to keep resources on how to manage bullying close by. Build your own avatar and share it so people know you're taking a stand.
• Check out the Cybersmart and ThinkUKnow websites to get ideas on how to keep safe online.