Year seven students at Taree High School have brushed up on their acting skills while learning about anti-bullying measures.
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The students took part in the Anti-Bullying Project, a program run through local performing arts school Stacey Lee's Centre Stage.
In small groups, students crafted a short scenario that covered issues such as cyber bullying, bullying on social media and schoolyard bullying.
These were then acted out in front of classmates.
Principal of the performing arts school Stacey Evans said the project aims to build empathy and resilience to bullying through drama.
"Probably the best part about it is they are immersed in it rather than being spoken at," Stacey said.
The program was first introduced at Taree High School in the later terms of 2018.
"It's been really well received, they can use it as part of their creative arts curriculum as well as getting the information out about this really important topic that the kids really need to learn about and how to resolve the situations," Stacey said.
Implementing anti-bullying measures to children through drama has always been a key goal for Stacey.
"It's (bullying) having a huge impact on our kids," she said.
"I don't think that bullying is necessarily going to go away but it's how the kids deal with it and how they communicate within their peer groups to then find a solution."
I don't think that bullying is necessarily going to go away but it's how the kids deal with it and how they communicate within their peer groups to then find a solution.
- Stacey Evans, Stacey Lee Centre Stage principal
Stacey was pleased by the enthusiasm shown by students.
"They were really great at just throwing themselves in, even when it was a little bit out of their comfort zone," Stacey said.
Stacey has aspirations to implement the program in more schools in the area and around the State.
The day coincided with the National Day of Action Against Bullying on March 15.