ANTI-BULLYING WEEK – A CHAIN REACTION OF KINDNESS

On Tuesday, Repton Prep was pleased to welcome a group of four of Repton's Upper Sixth School Prefects to lead a series of activities as part of our Anti-Bullying week. These activities were based on the idea of encouraging all in our community to reflect on the impact of one kind word and the ripple effect that can be created by each of us sharing kindness with one other.

The day began with the Upper Sixth Prefects leading a live Teams Assembly for Years 3 to 8. The Repton Prep pupils were able to watch the Assembly with their form teachers and put their ideas into the Q and A section of the Teams chat.  The key message from the assembly was that kindness fuels kindness. The Prefects were keen to share the idea that we can all play a part in a chain reaction that powers positivity. The pupils spoke powerfully about how one kind word can be a turning point to the experience of someone else’s day. They also highlighted that one kind word can change the course of a conversation and break the cycle of bullying. This idea of a chain reaction of kindness came across very powerfully and is something we have built into activities that will take place later in the week.

In the afternoon the Upper Sixth travelled down to Repton Prep to lead a series of workshops for the Year 5 pupils. It was very special to see how they were welcomed on arrival, with the Prep School students running over to speak to the Senior pupils who they were clearly able to relate to following the assembly earlier in the day. The workshop sessions evolved around the book Wonder By R.J. Palacio. Wonder features ten-year old Auggie, who is born with a facial abnormality, on his journey being sent to a real school for the first time. It is a funny and moving book about the importance of empathy and choosing to be kind. These sessions saw the Year 5 pupils discussing some important thoughts on what it means to be kind and how we can foster kindness in our friendships.

The Upper Sixth challenged all the Prep School pupils to create a paper chain of kindness for every pupil in Repton School - from Nursey to the Upper Sixth. Each pupil has been given a piece of paper to write a message of kindness to demonstrate that kindness is valued at every stage in our community. The chains will be hung up in the Repton Prep dining room on Friday as a visual representation and reminder of the kindness we have focused on throughout Anti-Bullying Week.