On Monday and Tuesday of this week, and in preparation for Anti-Bullying Week next week (commencing 11.11.2024), students Adrienne S (11H), Adelaide W (11S), Eva O (10H) and Sahi K (10H) gave a presentation on behalf of the Queenswood Mentors’ Team. Encouraging the whole school community to think about how we can build the most welcoming environment possible, Adrienne, Adelaide, Eva and Sahi told us that anti-bullying is something that the Mentors’ Team think about all year round.

Having introduced themselves, Adrienne, Adelaide, Eva and Sahi said the following:

Adrienne: ‘We are part of the school Mentors’ Team. We, and the other mentors sitting in chapel today, have volunteered to take part in a programme where we give student input on school anti-bullying strategies, and we mentor younger pupils who may like some support with friendships and the social side of Queenswood. Sometimes you don’t want to discuss the full details of a situation with a teacher, and that is where we come in. We can be someone who just listens, who offers advice, or who helps you to speak to the teachers if needed. Between us, we have experienced many of the challenges you might be facing and have come through the other side’.

Adelaide: ‘Next week, we will send an email with a full list of our names. There are many of us, all with different personalities and interests, so there will be someone amongst us you have things in common with. If you want to raise a concern, or would like to speak to someone closer to your age about a friendship issue, you can email any of us, or Miss Cronin or your Head of Year. Equally, you can speak to us in person, if you wish. If there is something you believe the school should be looking at or working on, please let us or the school council representatives know, and we will look at that in our meetings’.

Eva: ‘So, to next week. Often, you are told in Anti-Bullying Week what you should be doing differently to prevent bullying. This year, we are putting you in charge of the strategy and ideas for the coming year. So, we will be going all around the school asking YOU what anti-bullying strategies you would like to see put in place here at Q. We will record your responses, and a range will be included in our Anti-Bullying Week promotional video, which will be shared with the school’.

Sahi: ‘You don’t have to answer any questions - it is completely voluntary! If there’s something you really want to say, you can come to our stand at lunch time on Tuesday, where we will be conducting more filmed vox pops, and we will have a suggestion box… and maybe some treats for those who contribute. These focus weeks and days are the most effective when everyone gets involved, and the more feedback you give us, the better we can make the Queenswood community’.

After the students had spoken, Reverend Kate prayed:

Loving God,
Help us to remember that when we laugh at someone, they feel pain.
Help us to remember that when we pick on someone, they feel anger and fear.
Help us to remember that when we do not stick up for someone being bullied, they are alone.

In what can be a challenging world Lord, grant us the courage to accept that we are all different and that what we have in common is the need to be seen, heard and understood. Amen.

On Wednesday and Thursday of this week we rehearsed songs to sing in Chapel this term; this included Dear Lord and Father of Mankind and, in preparation for our Remembrance Service on 10.11.2024, O God Our Help in Ages Past and Eternal Father Strong to Save. In addition, Mrs Jackson announced that there will be another Christmas Song and Carol Competition this year when we will have the opportunity to vote for our favourites and to sing them in Chapel as we prepare for Christmas.

In closing, Mrs Jackson prayed the choristers’ prayer:

Bless O Lord, us thy servants, who minister in thy temple.
Grant that what we sing with our lips, we may believe in our hearts,
And what we believe in our hearts, we may show forth in our lives.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.