As part of Anti-Bullying Week 2025, pupils across the school engaged with this year’s theme, “Power for Good”.

The national campaign encouraged young people to recognise the positive influence they hold, empowering them to speak up safely, support one another, and raise awareness within their communities.

Throughout the week, our S6 pupils led a series of assemblies for S1 and S2 classes, focusing on how kindness, courage, and respectful action can transform school culture. They also  invited younger pupils to create poems. 

Moved by the message of empowerment, Florence (S1)  independently wrote a poem (see below), capturing the essence of what it means to use one’s voice for good.

Mrs Hardie, Head of S1, shared: “Our recent assemblies, led by our S6 Transition Mentors and School Captains, have focused on Anti-Bullying Week. They supported pupils in understanding that RGC is a community built on kindness, where we look out for one another. They spoke about how S1 can use their influence positively, call out unkind behaviour, and recognise the importance of not being a bystander by learning strategies for taking action when they see something that isn’t right.”

 

Back Off
by Florence (S1)

Stop right there
Yes you and me
I want to talk 
About these tragedies

Why do people
Speak without thought
Throwing words like stones
Before they see who’s caught

Why must they use their fists
And never cry for help
Inviting fights instead
Of reaching out for peace

Me-
I could never
I always think it through
So it bewilders me how they do it
Though I try not to think it through

Maybe they don’t mean it
And were only playing around
Though I can’t help but wonder
How their victims must have felt

Some might have laughed
Till laughter turned to tears
Or held it in till night
So no one saw their fears

You never know what happens
When you’re no longer there
You never know what breaks
Behind a silent stare

But can you even sleep
After all you have done
Do you ever lay awake
Wishing it hadn’t been done

Though of course there are those
Who stand aloud with pride
And speak up with their voice
Despite all of this noise

These acts may not be big
Even if just a hug in the dark
They have saved many people
From straying just a bit too far

I truly feel for them-
The bullies 
And their victims both

I only hope that time
Can simply heal them all
So they can finally sleep at night
Without a care in the world.

By Florence