The KiVa programme, which stands for “Kiusaamista Vastaan” in Finnish, meaning “Against Bullying,” is a research-based anti-bullying initiative originating from Finland. Developed at the University of Turku, Finland with funding from the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture.
The two aspects of the KiVa programme will work in harmony with our current Positive Behaviour for Learning approach.
- Developing an anti-bullying climate through classroom lessons
- Screening reported behaviours and then responding through the KiVa team to identify continued bullying behaviour
Why have we chosen KiVa for St Benedict’s School?
Our aim for being part of both KiVa and PB4L is to provide clarity of process and procedures for the St Benedict’s community as we all support our tamariki to be good friends and community participants.
Over the past six years, St Benedict’s school has collected information on our tamariki wellbeing through the NZCER Wellbeing @ School survey completed by tamariki in our years 4-8. The Pro-Social Student Culture measure of this survey has identified that 30-40% of our tamariki feel that students do not know how to stand up for each other if someone is mean, are not including others, are not treating each other with respect and find it hard to listen to each other. These skills and behaviours are often lacking when bullying occurs.
Our staff are passionate about providing an education climate that all tamariki feel comfortable within with 100% of the staff wanting to introduce KiVa to support our tamariki. The staff have received a vast selection of KiVa material in addition to training for the program implementation.
The first step included surveying all students from years 2-8 about their experiences of bullying at St Benedict’s School before the teaching of the programme and implementation of the response framework. This data will be shared at our Parent Meeting and the survey repeated in November 2024. From then on data will be gathered each November to help inform tailored interventions and continuous evaluation of the programme’s effectiveness.
What will my tamaiti/child be taught through the bullying prevention programme?
KiVa is a comprehensive program designed to combat bullying and cultivate a positive school environment. Through classroom lessons delivered throughout the year, KiVa instills empathy and encourages positive interactions among students. It’s not just a temporary initiative; it’s a long-term commitment to preventing and addressing bullying.
Key aspects of KiVa lessons include:
- Embracing Diversity: Celebrating differences in culture, background, and abilities, KiVa promotes acceptance and appreciation of individual uniqueness, fostering a sense of belonging for all students.
- Building Resilience: Through role-playing and problem-solving activities, KiVa teaches resilience skills, empowering students to navigate challenges with confidence and strength.
- Promoting Inclusivity: KiVa creates an inclusive classroom environment where every student feels valued and respected, emphasizing kindness, empathy, and inclusivity to lay the foundation for positive peer relationships.
- Encouraging Leadership: KiVa empowers students to become leaders in promoting kindness and empathy, offering opportunities for students to take on leadership roles and fostering a sense of responsibility in creating a positive school culture.
- Empathy Building: Recognizing empathy as essential, KiVa focuses on developing empathy through activities and discussions that encourage students to understand and appreciate each other’s perspectives, fostering compassion towards peers.
- Bystander Intervention: KiVa equips students to be active bystanders, teaching strategies for safely and effectively intervening in bullying situations, fostering a culture of collective responsibility and support.
- Conflict Resolution: Teaching communication, problem-solving, and negotiation techniques, KiVa enables students to address conflicts constructively, promoting positive relationships and reducing bullying incidents.
- Digital Citizenship: Addressing cyberbullying concerns, KiVa incorporates lessons on digital citizenship, teaching online etiquette, privacy, and responsible technology use to help students navigate the digital world safely and respectfully.
What does St Benedict’s School define as bullying?
As a KiVa school, our definition of bullying is as follows:
Harmful behaviour/degrading treatment which is
- deliberate
- repeated
- targeted at a relatively defenceless or a less powerful person
Bullying is not…
- a conflict
- an argument
- a fight
What happens if my tamaiti/child is experiencing hurtful behaviour, who do I go to for help?
Firstly, your child, their friend, a staff member or you can report hurtful behaviour to any member of staff. They will complete a screening form within our Student Management System and based on the information decide whether this is:
- A conflict or fight between children
- A case of hurt feelings due to a misunderstanding
- A single case of an aggressive or hurtful act
- Continuous bullying is to be directed to the KiVa team.
If the hurtful behaviour is not identified as continuous bullying the classroom teacher, syndicate leader or principal will still respond to the behaviour through a restorative justice model. This model is viewable on SchoolDocs, is currently under review to ensure it reflects our commitment to Positive Behaviour for Learning Framework. We expect to be able to share our updated model in Term 2.
If the hurtful behaviour is identified as continuous bullying it is referred to the KiVa team who follow a structured framework for addressing bullying incidents.
The process is captured below.
Currently, our KiVa team includes Anne Minto, Cheryl Taylor, Rebecca Blackwood, Fiona Barnett, Emilia Speirs, Sarah Wood
What if the framework doesn’t work and the behaviour continues?
The framework requires that the KiVa team check in with all tamariki to ensure the behaviour stops. The KiVa framework is a one-time opportunity for tamariki to reflect on the effects of their actions on their relationship with another student and change their behaviour.
If the tamariki have not taken up the opportunity to both own and change their behaviour it is then dealt with through our Positive Behaviour for Learning framework.