Head of Primary Message, Term 1, Week 6 2026
- 13 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Thank you to all AISHK families who joined us for the Welcome BBQ last Friday. It was a festive evening and a wonderful way to celebrate the Chinese New Year – the Year of the Horse! Events like this don’t come together overnight, and we extend a heartfelt thank you to our Parent Association for organising such a meaningful community gathering.
Last week, Ms Young, Deputy Head of Secondary, and I attended a professional learning masterclass in Sydney focused on school responses to bullying. You may have seen recent reports in the Australian news about the NSW Government’s development of a new Anti‑Bullying Framework to guide schools. As an Australian school following the Australian Curriculum, we are encouraged by this work and committed to responding to the latest research in this area.
A key message from the masterclass was that kindness must always remain at the heart of every great school. This includes explicitly teaching kindness at different age levels, approaching conflict with kindness, and modelling kindness in our daily interactions as adults. At AISHK, we can be proud of the community we’ve built and our continued commitment to placing wellbeing at the centre of all we do. This is something uniquely Australian and an important reason many families choose AISHK.
We are dedicated to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment. We work closely with students to develop social‑emotional skills, encourage empathy, and ensure every child feels supported and heard. It is essential that we understand the difference between bullying and social conflict, as each situation requires a different response.
Bullying typically:
· Involves intentional and repeated behaviour meant to cause harm.
· Includes a power imbalance where one child feels unable to defend themselves.
· Can be physical, verbal, social, or digital.
· Often leaves the targeted child feeling unsafe, isolated, or distressed.
Social conflict, on the other hand:
· Is a disagreement or misunderstanding between peers.
· Is usually occasional and not intended to cause harm.
· Occurs between children of relatively equal power who may both feel upset.
· Is often resolved through guidance, communication, and problem‑solving.
Recognising the distinction helps us respond appropriately. While all conflict matters and warrants attention, bullying requires a structured, protective and proactive approach. Social conflict, however, provides opportunities for children to learn and grow through supported resolution.
Within our school, AISHK Behavioural Expectations include:
· “Ready to Learn” expectations visible in all classrooms.
· Restorative conversations led by teachers.
· Strong partnerships between teachers, school leaders, and families.
· Collaboration with student support services to develop social skills.
· A culture of peer support, including mentoring, buddy systems, and shared understandings.
At AISHK, we have zero tolerance for bullying. Clear and defined consequences are in place, ranging from reflection routines to internal or external reflections. We also ensure that students and families affected by bullying receive ongoing support, and when appropriate, we engage external organisations for additional guidance.
You may find further information through our SchoolTV subscription here:
If you ever have concerns about your child’s interactions at school, please reach out. We are here to listen, work with you, respond swiftly, and act with kindness.
