Themes that are covered include:

P.1 – Me,  a Special Person

aiming to give children a sense of uniqueness and to affirm the care that many people have for them.

P.2 – One of Many

looking at the importance of friendship and how to make relationships.

P.3 – Feelings and Emotions

deals with strong feelings (and how to channel them) and conflict resolution.

P.4 – Learning New Skills

listening, communicating, negotiating and being assertive.

P.5 – Facing challenges

critical thinking and decision-making, dealing with pressure and being responsible.

P.6 – Looking after myself

issues of personal safety.

As well as the running of this programme throughout the six years of the Junior School, there are several special projects designed to deal with important issues in greater depth.

In Primary One

a programme called ‘Keeping Myself Safe’ introduces young children to a range of personal safety issues. Through a combination of discussion and role play the children are helped to think through many potentially dangerous situations. This sharpens their understanding of how to respond to danger.

In Primary Four

there is a significant input on Road Safety, timed to prepare children adequately for the increasing independence they have as they grow.

In Primary Six

the ‘Feeling Yes, Feeling No’, Personal Safety Programme deals with issues that are appropriate at this stage. It enables children to develop a more informed view of threats to personal safety and promotes assertiveness in situations where they might otherwise be at risk.

Bully Victim

By Ben Taylor 6C

Victim Prologue

Erm... Hi, the name’s Brad, Brad Walker although I’m usually called ‘Chicken’ by my class ‘mates’. Well I WAS called Chicken , now I’m not.

I’m small, blond haired, with neat hair (I can’t stand untidiness). I also wear no-rim glasses. I’m not bothered about what I wear, as long as it’s neat and comfy.

Unlike my siblings I don’t really have any favourite colour, sports team or game’s console; I just play what I have.

I’m even friends with Travis Caperton, the OLD school bully (the biggest, the nastiest and THE smelliest). One thing we had in common was he wasn’t fussy either - about who he hit in his case! Now no one can bully me without having the living daylights punched out of them soon after!

However, it wasn’t always like that, we used to hate each other. No, that’s an understatement, we loathed each other, but then something happened which changed both of us forever. Want to hear more`?

It all started on the 11 td of February...

Anything with * * around it is a thought that the bully would have had before the incident.

Bully Prologue

*Hi, the Name’s Travis. That’s all you need to know, you should already know the rest. What?!? You don’t know my full name and so you want me to tell you?!?!?!? Man you are really heading for a...*.

*Cough Cough* Sorry, I just wanted you to know how I would have answered before that day.

Oh, and my surname’s Caperton.

I’m tall, dark-haired, muscular and I have wild hair (unlike that * ‘worm’* Brad) . I just *’can’t abide neatness’* and anything cool was wearable in my eyes then.

I am an only child (thank goodness), and I enjoy any sport that involved contact so I REALLYliked rugby

I used to be the biggest school bully there was (I thought). Tall, wild-haired and strong. Everyone feared me.

Then something happened which changed me and Brad forever. Fine, I’ll tell you if you want.

It all started on the 11 td of February...

The Incident

I woke up this morning, totally bored. Apart from the bullying, I didn’t think anything would happen today. Wrong. I walked to school, getting ready for the usual bullying. Thing is that wasn’t what happened. When I got to the classroom the teacher, Mrs Kaskar, was out. I entered the classroom and suddenly everyone started shouting the same thing. ‘’Chicken!’’

Later today I was sent by Mrs Kaskar to get something from the staff room. I’d forgotten that one of the doors on the way was push and pull. It was when I got to that door that this whole thing started. We had been told to pull the door. I pushed. WHAM. I looked on in shock when I realised what had happened. I had hit Travis Caperton in the face. ‘’ You little wretch!’’ he screamed. Then he lowered his voice,’’ Alien rock at 6:00, or else... I didn’t want to go but I had no choice. That ‘or else’ didn’t sound too good. But I was a better rock climber then him. It couldn’t be too bad, right?

Wrong. Again.

The Incident

I woke up at 8:00 and took my time getting to school. At 9:30 I arrived at the school gate. My teacher, Mr Skinner, took 5 Minutes off Golden Time for being late, again. Great. Then because I was late EVERY day he took off another 5. Even Better.

At assembly there was announcement that actually made sense for once. One of the doors had been converted to Push and Pull, but we had to pull until they fitted a window.

While walking back to class I passed Mrs Kaskar’s class, they were all shouting the same thing, ‘’Chicken!’’, I joined in after a few chants Mr Skinner came round the corner. Ulp. 5 Minutes off. Wow. That’s 15 Minutes lost in one day! Of course I had to go and see Mr Frare, the headmaster, for that.

I was on my way to the office when I came to the two-way door, I was about to open it when... WHAM, the door hit me right in the face. I looked up to see Brad Walker standing there looking down. ‘’ You little wretch!’’ I screamed then I lowered my voice, ‘’ Alien Rock at 6:00, or else...’’

I walked away, towards the office. I went in. Mr Frare guessed what had happened.’’ So Travis,’’ he said,’’ You lost 25 Minutes of...’’ I interrupted, ‘’ 15, sir.’’ ‘’ No 25’’, he said,’’ I’m taking away 10 for what happened out there, but that means a 4W for you for extra homework, you may leave.’’ I ran back to the classroom, yes ran, when Mrs Kaskar caught me. ’’ 5 Minutes off.’’ she said. All my GT lost in one day, a personal best! Or a personal Worst.

The Cheat

5:50. 10 minutes to go. Uh-Oh. I’d only just left the house and I was terrified out of my skin. It seemed like a house of TERROR I was walking to. I started to move.

5:55. 5 minutes to go and I wasn’t even halfway there, I realised what might happen if Travis got there first. I shuddered. I didn’t want to think about it. I certainly did not want Travis to be early.

6:05. Oh no! I’m late! That could be disastrous. I’d arrived by now and the wall looked okay. I hoped it was. I walked over to Travis.’’ You’re late, worm.’’ he said. Then he turned to the wall. I knew what he meant. There were two people nearby to belay. We got ready to climb. Before I knew what was happening we had started. We climbed... and climbed. I was almost at the top! I was going to win! I jumped for the next set of holds. I missed. I swung back to my original position. The Holds were gone. I grabbed onto the holds above. They came off. I fell. Well, the rope held me. I looked up. I didn’t like what I saw. The rope was snapping. The next few seconds seemed to pass in slow motion. Pulling... Pulling...SNAP. The air whipped past me and the ground rushed up to meet me. THWAK.

The Cheat

4:30. I was already at Alien Rock. For once I was early. Heh. I had brought two mates along to help by pretending to belay. This was going to be so easy. First, however, I had to make sure that worm Brad had no chance at all. So, with one of my mates belaying, I started climbing. I pulled out a screwdriver and loosened all the holds on his side. I bought a Twix and waited.

5:30. I had another trick up my sleeve. I pulled out pocketknife and cut Brad’s rope thinner so that it would snap with too much pressure on it.

6:00. Hmmmm. He’s late. He’s chickened out! Unless he arrives soon, I, Travis Caperton win!

6:05. He’s arrived. ‘’You’re late, worm.’’ I said. This competition is ON!

3....2...1...GO! We start. I’m climbing... and climbing... he’s almost at the top!

He’s jumped, the holds came off, his rope snaps. Ouch, that must have hurt. I climb to the right. A wobble. The holds come off?!? I fall, and my leg catches on a hold. CRACK. I realise I’ve broken my leg. My last thought before I fall is, ‘How could I have been so stupid as to unscrew my own holds?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

THWAK.

Cheaters Never Win…

I felt wet. Not water though. I woke up. Brad was next to me. I smiled weakly,’’ Sorry’’. I fell into blackness. Down…Down…Up. I woke up in a hospital. My leg was in a cast and there was a new wheelchair next to me. That got me out of exercise for a bit.

And Winners Never Cheat.

I woke up. Ouch, that hurt quite a bit. I was lying on the floor. I turned my head to the left. Travis! He was lying in a pool of blood. I pulled out my cell phone and called.999. Travis opened his eyes and smiled weakly. He could only manage one word.’’ Sorry.’’ He passed out. I knew he’d be safe. I hoped…