St Clare's Primary School Harold's Cross Dublin 6W

A True Story

It was the summer of 2007. It’s about my little sister. She was 7 then. She’s tall, she had dark brown hair like me, brown eyes and she’s a good kid.

All this happened in Wolf Park. She was playing on the swings in the playground. She tried to get on a swing but a boy pushed her off. He was about 8 or 9 years old. He got on the swing instead of her. She was upset and frightened by him. She started crying.

I was in the playground and I came to help. I grabbed the boy’s arms and threw him on the ground. Then I kicked him. His mother saw it and she came over. She was angry with me and with her son.

I was lucky that day. The mother was fair. But I still got into a lot of trouble. It could have been a lot worse. I could have got badly injured. It’s not a good idea to fight someone. Get an adult to help instead. My advice is Do NOT Fight At All. It’s dangerous. It gets you into trouble. And it doesn’t help. It makes things worse and the fighting goes on and on.

By Dean

Molly’s Tough Life

This is a story about Molly, a Cocker Spaniel. When she was young she lived alone in a barn. Her master was cruel. He shouted at her and kicked her. He was a pure bully. The barn was cold and dark, there was a hole at the top of the roof. He left her hungry all the time. You could see her bones. She was sick and very sad.
One dark night it was lashing rain. The master left the door of the barn open. Molly ran out. It was very dark. She was frightened and confused. A car came speeding by and she was nearly blinded by the lights. She got all wet from the puddle too. She ran and ran all night. Finally she was so exhausted she fell down asleep in a field.

In the morning she wakes up and finds herself in a lovely warm house. Beside her is a lovely bowl of food and drinks and a nice bed. There’s two kids petting her and combing her hair. She cannot believe her luck. She wagged her tail like mad and licked their fingers.

A kind man had found her in the field that morning. He was on his way to the Pound to get a dog. He picked her up like a baby and put a towel around her body. He brought her home and put her gently down on the bed he had got for a new dog. He got her food for when she woke up. Later his kids saw her.
Then Molly turned around and she saw a Boxer dog, Ash. He was very friendly. She knew things were going to get better. That night the two dog beds were beside each other. Molly’s blanket fell off her bed a bit. Ash saw this and picked it up with his mouth and put it over her.
Molly lived happily ever after in her new home. A few months later she had gorgeous little puppies.

By Joshua

The Sad Story of Lee Brady

Lee Brady was 9 years old. He lived with his ma and his da on Daisy Road. He liked motorbikes and football. But he was worried about something. His ma and da were always fighting.

One day they were fighting and he heard them. He went in and told them to stop and they shouted at him. Then they hit him. He cried and ran up to his room. He locked himself in the room. Then they came and kicked it open and they grabbed him and hit him. The next door neighbour heard them shouting and she went to the police. They were arrested.

Lee went to a foster home and had a better life.

By Stephen

Bullying
A poem by Aoibhin

My face it burns,
My stomach turns.
And I can see
They’re waiting for me.
They whisper,
They trip me up,
They laugh if I fall.
But if I were big,
If I were tall,
They wouldn’t hurt me,
Not at all.
All I want is for them to see,
And to feel a little sympathy.


Gaelic
A story by Michael

I am a nine-year-old boy. I was being slagged and bullied in Gaelic. The reason I was being bullied is I can’t kick as good as the others. I’m not as fast as the others. Last week we played a match and we were losing by a point. Our best player got injured so he had to come off. So I came on as a sub and was about to take the peno. One of the boys said “Don’t miss – or you’re dead!”
I felt really nervous….so I missed. Then everybody started to slag me. So I told the coach. He told the lads to stop. And they did. And now we all get along and I have got better, and faster too.

Bullies, Victims, Bystanders
(a true story by Clare)

There was a girl in my class and she was being bullied by a
New girl who was in her old school,I saw what happened……..
I thought it must be stopped but the
Victim told her to stop……
But she didn’t. She passed nasty
Notes threatening the Victim!
She told me about the notes.
I asked to see what the note said……
But she had put the notes in the bin.
After school we left a note about it in
To a teacher- We left the note on the
Teacher’s desk…..And she fixed it!

By Clare

A Story about helping old people
By Caoimhe

I am 76 years old.
I live in a house by myself. I have no kids and no friends.
My husband died a few months ago and now I'm all alone.
All I want is for someone to come and visit me everyday just to make sure I'm okay.
I don't to go to a nursing home because I'm not sick.
All I need is someone to talk to.
Then one day when I was outside gardening I saw my neighbour Bridie.
I decided I would tell her about my problem and see if she could help.
She said she knew a place her sister went to.
It's a place you go when you're lonely at your home and need someone to talk to.
I said I don't want to go to a homeanything like that. I just need someone to keep me company.
She gave me the number anyway and told me to ring them and see if they could help.
So I went inside and gave them a ring they said that they also send people around to houses as well.
I was very happy when I heard this so I said yes.
They told me they would send someone around tomorrow.
The next day at around 3 o'clock a lady came around.
She was with the service I rang yesterday.
Her name was Susan she was very nice I liked her a lot.
She made me my breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea and some snacks in between.
She also cleaned and talked to me which was just what I needed. She made me sohappy I'm glad I told Bridie about my problem.

By Caoimhe

BULLIED ALL DAY!
A story by Eimear

I woke this morning at 7 o’clock as usual. I remembered I was in my mam’s house.
“David,” she shouted, “David, you’ll be late for school.”
Oh no, it was Monday.
“I feel sick,” I yelled.
“Well you can’t miss another day or you’ll get a note,” she said coming into the room. “Go get washed. I have to go to the office early today. Breakfast’s on the table, don’t let it get cold. And don’t forget to pick up your homework from your dad’s house… Bye.”

So I went and got dressed. I felt sick, I didn’t want to go to school but I had to. I couldn’t eat my breakfast so I threw it in the bin. Sean was going to be there – I couldn’t tell my mam or dad that he was bullying me.
I left the house and then I heard someone call me. It was Sean; he had been waiting for me.
“David, oh David,” he called after me. “Hope you have my homework done.”
“Go away,” I shouted back without turning my head.
“Oh, is David getting upset?” he jeered.

I started to run, my dad’s house was in sight. There was just one problem – he was running faster than me, but I reached the door just in time. As soon as my dad opened it I ran in.
“Why are you out of breath?” my dad asked.
“I don’t want to be late for school,” I lied. “I’ll just use the bathroom before I go, Dad,” I said quickly, and ran up to the bathroom. The small bathroom window was at the front of the house and I looked out to see if Sean was still there. I couldn’t see anyone but I thought he might be hiding. Then my dad called up to me.
“Hurry up David or you will be late!”
I decided I’d better go so I said goodbye to dad and made a run for it.

I didn’t stop running ‘til I reached the school. But Sean had got there ahead of me. He was waiting at the gate. There was a group of people walking in so I hid among them and slipped by him. The bell rang and there was a rush of children from the playground to the school doors.
Sean had spotted me and was running towards me. But then I saw Miss Turner and stood near her. There was no way Sean would dare come near me with a teacher standing beside me. Sean was making his way over to me. Instead of being horrible, he said “Hi David,” as nice as pie and strolled on by. I went into class and as I was about to sit down Sean pulled my chair away and I fell in a heap on the floor! Everyone laughed. Mr. Mehigan came in and gave out to me for messing. At this stage Sean was already sitting down and the teacher didn’t wait for me to explain myself. He started to talk to the class about Anti-Bullying Week.

Sean started to pass notes to me, saying things like: “You have no friends so if you tell on me I’ll get you, big time!” Mr. Mehigan caught me with the piece of paper and read it. He was furious.
“This is exactly the kind of thing I’m talking about, David!”

I couldn’t tell him what was really going on because I knew Sean would get me later. I apologized, even though it wasn’t my fault and spent the rest of the class writing “I must not bully my classmate.” Fifty times!!

Finally it was lunch time. Even though I wasn’t hungry I was glad to be out of the classroom. There was no way I could hide from Sean. He caught up with me at the bicycle shelter.
“So, hand over the homework, David, or else! You did do it, didn’t you?”
I pulled the crumpled copy out of my jacket pocket and handed it over.
“There had better be an A in this,” he said, and, thumping me hard in the stomach he walked away, taking my crisps with him.
My stomach clenched even more. I didn’t want to go back to class. But the bell rang and back I went. No-one in the class would talk to me since he started bullying me. I think Sean told them stories about me, but they all snigger at me when I walk by. As I sat down everyone started to laugh at me. I checked my clothes for stains or rips and checked the back of my jumper for “Kick Me” signs. No, they were just laughing at me.

That evening I went home to Mam’s house, hoping she wouldn’t be there, but she was. I told her I was going upstairs to do my homework. I settled down to work on mine and Sean’s homework. I really don’t know what to do, because I know it’ll happen again tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after……………

By Eimear

A Tell-Tale Story
By Matthew

Once there was a boy called Jacob. He was 11 years old. He always went into school every day with a packet of crisps for these boys called Jack, Alan and Conor. Alan was the main one of the gang. He was very tough. If you ever got cheeky with him he would start a fight. Jacob always told on the bold boys. But then he got into trouble because they always said “He slapped me first.” So once again Jacob got suspended and the boys ruled once again.

Don’t Try: Four Poems on Empathy
A Poem by Kate

Don’t try to imagine how I feel
When you push me, slag me and call me names.
Don’t try to imagine how I feel
When embarrassment, loneliness, worry and sadness
Are mixed up all inside me.
It feels like it will never stop.
I want to shut myself away.
Don’t try to imagine how I feel.
Try to imagine how you would feel
If this was happening to you.

A Poem by Lauren

Don’t ever try to explain
How I feel when you’re here
Don’t ever do it to anyone
Even if they’re here.
Don’t ever do what I hate
Because it is not nice.
Don’t ever act like you’re innocent
Or that you don’t care.
Don’t ever try to explain
How I feel when you’re here.
Try to imagine how you would feel
If this was happening to you.

A Poem by Tori

Don’t try to explain how I feel
When you hit me and punch me and hurt me.
Don’t try to imagine how I feel
When you slap me and slag me and hurt me.
Don’t try to imagine how I feel
When you kick me and hurt me very hard.
Now you should think how you would feel
If I did this to you.

A Poem by Shauna

Don’t try to hurt my feelings
Don’t try to blame it on me.
Don’t try to really hurt me
Because you cant know how I feel.

Now you just step into my shoes.
And imagine how I feel.
Just really think as hard as you can.
Do you feel you’re gonna peel?

Do you feel just like I feel?
Do you feel like
You’re gonna get sick?
Do you sleep at night?

Just Please, Please, Please

Stop
A Story by Aoibhin

I don’t know what to do. I can see her, she’d being so mean! I should stop her! But how can I – she’ll hate me then and she’s my best friend. I can’t get her in trouble. She’s always so nice to me, why is she being so mean now? I walk up to her to try and stop her.
“Come on Emily,” she says.
What should I do? I ignore it….. It’s ok today, Cara isn’t in so I won’t have to say anything to Jess….
Car is not in again today, she must be sick! I’m going to Jess’s house today – that should be fun.
Oh, no, here comes Cara, coming out of the shop! No, Jess is approaching her! I have to stop her. I can’t watch her any longer.
“No, Jess, you have to stop!”
“Stop what?”
“Stop what you’re doing. It’s wrong! Stop! Now!”
“Ok, fine.”
She said that but she still glared at Cara the next day and ignored me. This continued for days…. Weeks….
And in this time I became quite friendly with Cara and she told me it had been happening for months, but she had never told anyone because she was afraid Jess would be even meaner. That evening I decided that I had had enough! So I went round to Jess’s house to ask her why she was being so mean to Cara and now me. But then she started to cry and said it had started last January when her Granny died and she had started to pick on Cara because she was an easy target. I told her that she had really hurt Cara inside and then I left. On Monday Jess went up to Cara and apologised. So I suppose they’re friends now! I’m glad I was able to sort it out.

By Aoibhin


A Story by Jodie

My name is Emile. I am from Gaza in Israel. I live in a small building with my auntie and two other boys. A while back I could go to school but it’s not safe anymore. I had a friend named Kiel but she died in a big explosion. My mum and dad went with men in green clothes a while ago. They were crying. My aunt said they will try and come back. The two other boys don’t like me- they always sit together and ignore me. When I offer them some water they cry and push me away but I know they are just scared. The building across the road blew up. People are dying and I want it all to stop.

By Jodie

The Outsider
A story by Jake

My first day at school felt terrible. It was weird. I was the one – no-one knows what it is like being a fish out of water. At yard two boys made me feel angry and embarrassed. I spent a lot of time by myself wandering around like a ghost.

People would come around me and I would feel like a caged tiger and being chased like a fox in Great Britain. But the best things were going home, and Fridays!

By Jake

The Bully
A Story by Rachel

I’m Madelina Wilson, I’m thirteen years old and I have been in my new secondary school now for a week and everyone hates me and my brother. I’m an orphan, I live in an orphanage. It’s a nice orphanage, the people are lovely but we all go to different schools. I go to St. Matthew’s College in London.
I just finished brushing my teeth, then I went downstairs because breakfast had just been served. I wasn’t hungry – I just grabbed my bag and coat and went off to school. It’s not that far, about a ten minute walk.
My brother Matthew was already there. There was a crowd and I could barely see what was going on. It was Matthew – he was getting pushed back and forth by three boys: Derek Hanson, Jake Lanagan and the worst one of all Luke Jenkins. They were calling him names and saying “The state of your clothes! Where did you get them, Penneys?” and “Orphan wearing Penneys clothes because you can’t afford anything else.”
This has been happening all week. I couldn’t look at him anymore. I shoved through the crowd and went straight up to Luke Jenkins and said “Back off!”
Luke laughed and said “Oh, look, it’s brave little Maddie!”
He pushed me and I fell, hurting my back. The crowd laughed. I felt so embarrassed. I felt like crying. Then Lucy Jenkins stepped out of the crowd – she was Luke’s sister.
“Don’t worry Lukie, I’ll deal with her,” she said.
“You don’t have to,” he said, “because she’s a weak little orphan and can’t afford anything. Orphan! Stupid orphan who can’t afford anything.” He said it over and over again.
My blood was pumping, I was so angry I couldn’t help the tears coming. I got up and punched him in the nose. That was when Lucy hit me on the head, then kicked me, then pushed me so hard I hit my head off the ground. The crows did nothing; they just stood there looking at me. My head was sore and I was so embarrassed I just ran into school. I went into the bathroom to wipe the blood off my head. I cried until the bell rang. I tried too hard to wash the redness out of my eyes so it would look like I wasn’t crying at all.
I was late for class; the teacher gave out to me. I couldn’t concentrate on my work. I almost forgot to write down my homework. History was next. Lucy is in the same class as me for History. It was the worst class ever – she sat behind me and every time the teacher wasn’t looking she would lean over her table and whisper in my ear “Orphan.” Every time I went to the bin or to the toilet she would trip me and the class would giggle and the teacher would give out to me for not watching where I was going.
Finally school was over. As I walked out of the school Lucy tripped me which made me drop all my books. I was happy to be home. I went upstairs to do my homework but I couldn’t concentrate. I was too worried about tomorrow- what would she call me? What would she do to me? I was scared.
Dinner was ready. It was Macaroni and Cheese, my favourite but I hardly ate it. I hardly took a bite out of it. I didn’t feel well. I cleared off and went straight to bed, hoping I would feel better in the morning.
I was wrong. In the morning I felt worse, much worse. I was tired because I didn’t fall asleep all night and I didn’t feel well at all. I hardly touched my breakfast. When I went to school I got in so much trouble for not doing my homework.
And it happened again and again, every single day. Lucy would whisper “Orphan” in my ear at history class; she would trip me when I would go to the bin or to the toilet and after school she would trip me and make me drop my books. I would cry in the bathroom. I didn’t eat anything. I never slept, day after day, night after night. I could see I was much paler. I felt more and more sick very day.
One day after school the woman who is in charge at the orphanage Miss McAvoy sat me down and asked what was wrong. “Nothing,” I said.
“Maddie, you don’t look at all well and your teachers told me that you’re not doing your homework.””OK,” o admitted. “There’s this girl at school... well… she’s sort of bullying me, Miss.”
“OH, no wonder you look so pale,” she said.
“What can I do?”
“Well, stick up for yourself,” she said. “Now, put your hands up as if you’re pushing her away but don’t actually push her and just say “Back off”. And if she laughs, let her, then say “Leave me alone. I didn’t do anything to you so leave me alone.” And also “Hey I don’t want to get you into trouble but I will tell the teacher if you don’t stop.”
“But then they will call me a rat,” I said.
Miss Mc Avoy shook her head. “If she calls you a rat say to her you don’t want to tell the teacher but that if she keeps bullying you, you will have to tell. Give her a choice,” she told me.
I nodded but we both knew I didn’t have the courage to do it.
“Come on,” she said. “Right now pretend I’m this girl. Now do it to me.”
So I did. I practised on Miss AcAvoy for an hour, putting my hands up and telling her to back off. She told me to always have confidence. I did have confidence and that night I slept like a baby.
On my way to school now I can see Lucy coming over to me.
She said “look, it’s the orphan.”
I put up my hands as if to push her away and said “back off, leave me alone. I didn’t do anything to you.”
“Oh, what ya gonna do?” she said.
“I’ll tell on you if you don’t stop. And don’t call me a rat! Because I don’t want to tell on you – but if you keep bullying me I will have to.”
She was quiet for a moment but then she whispered “Fine.”
I couldn’t believe it worked! I felt so much better. She gave in so easily too.
“And tell your brother too.” I said and I couldn’t help smiling.
It actually worked! After everything, it worked! So nobody bullied me and Matthew anymore. I made some new friends and I learned always to be confident and to be sincere.

By Rachel

Three years ago there lived a girl named Hannah. It was her first day of school. They were in 6 class.
“We have a new student,” said Teacher.
Hannah dropped her books. Everyone laughed except Amy.
It was lunch time.
“Hello, my name is Amy,” “how old are you?”
“I’m 12,” said Hannah.
“So am I.”
Hannah was bullied by Jenny. Jenny was saying mean words and hitting her.
Amy went home that night and thought she was going to be good friends with Hannah. In the morning at school Hannah went to the bin. Jenny tripped her up.
Amy said “Leave her alone.”
“Why would I listen to you/” says Jenny.
“Just leave her alone,” said Amy.
Then Jenny hit Hannah and pushed her. Amy helped Hannah then. She tried to cheer her up by doing the splits and a cartwheel.
The school bell went. “Hey Hannah, sit next to me.”
“So, when’s your birthday Amy?” she asked in class.
“12 March.”
Then the teacher said “We were doing PE .”
They played me football. Amy scored. Hannah scored.
Then Hannah asked “What’s your number Amy?”
“916503.”
Amy went home on the school bus with Hannah.
Later Amy called Hannah. “Hi, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Come to my house. Are you still getting bullied?”
“Yes.”
“Well I’m going to protect you from Jenny.”
“Thanks. I feel happier already!”

ANTI-BULLYING RAPS

Rap1
by Dean and Natasha

I went to school
I thought it was cool
By accident it actually drooled.

When I was late startin’ work
My teacher went berserk
Then she started to compare me
To a guy named Dirk

Then the bullies came over
And said to me
“Look at her-
She’s so ugly.”

“Why you bullyin’ ME?
Maybe you are ugly!
So let me be…”

Rap 2
By Natasha and Rachel

I was goin’ to school
And I thought it was drool
And I said to my mother
“This ain’t cool.”

But then I arrived
To my surprise
The bully came up and said
“Hey – I should apologise.”

He said “Hey, I didn’t realize
I hurt your feelings,
I made you sad
And now I’m here to make you glad!”

The Mean Bully
A story by Ryan

Once there was a boy called Mark who was so excited to get to school because he wanted to make new friends. He was waiting for the bus to come. As he was waiting a bunch of kids were walking over to the bus stop. Mark said “Hello.” They ignored him and laughed. The bus came. Thank God, thought Mark.
On the bus, as he was walking by, someone tripped him and he fell. Everybody laughed. He got up and sat at the back of the bus.
When he got to the school he went to class. He was paring his pencil when someone walked by and pushed him into the bin.
“What’s your name?” asked Mark.
“John,” he said and pushed Mark again.
The next day Mark’s class was doing PE. John tripped Mark up.
Mark moaned “Why are you doing this to me?”
John said “Because I have no friends.”
“I will be your friend,” said Mark.
And they were friends forever.

By Ryan

The Bully
A story by Tori

One day when I was at the bus stop I saw lots of children talking to each other about school. I think they were staring at me and laughing at me and saying “Look at her!”
A boy who was with them came over to me and said “Look who it is!” and I just stared at my feet. He kicked me as if to say “Look up now!”
Then the bus came and I got on. When I arrived at school I tried to tell the teacher but she would not listen to me. She was too busy talking to herself. So I went back to my seat.
It was not fair that they got away with it and I did not even get a chance to explain what happened.