Stop the Hate: Pupils sing for bully free school

The Daily Post has launched a campaign to take a stand against bullying in our city. Stop The Hate has been running over the last few weeks and will look at bullying, bullies and their victims. Today, we hear about anti-bullying music videos Kaitao Middle School students have been making.

Kaitao Middle School students are making it known that bullying isn't welcome at their school.

The pupils have been taking part in a competition in which each class writes an anti-bullying song and creates a music video to go with it. It is all part of their aim to become a bully-free school.

The competition has closed and the school has come up with the three finalists, which include Room 6, Room 7/8 and Rooms 19/20, and the winner of the competition will be announced next week.

Kaitao principal Rory O'Rourke said they had been showing the music videos at assemblies and the winning video would be chosen by the pupils.

The winning class will have their video "jazzed up a bit" before it is uploaded to video-sharing website YouTube and will be treated to a lunch.

Mr O'Rourke said the entries had been very good.

"We've got three very good ones," Mr O'Rourke said.

He said by having the children make a song and video about anti-bullying, it was a good way to teach them about the importance of not being bullies.

"It's been excellent feedback. They've really enjoyed doing it.

"They've all written original songs and they've made videos," he added.

Mr O'Rourke said while only parts of the songs were about bullies hurting people, they were also about pupils being empowered, positive and proactive.

He said the pupils were able to sing, dance and act while also promoting an end of bullying at their school.

"It is a good way of teaching kids about the serious issue of bullying.

"They have a part in it."

If you would like to share a story about bullying, email kristin.macfarlane@dailypost.co.nz or contact her on (07) 348 6199, ext: 57072.