Media Articles

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Latest News

YOU CAN SIT WITH ME and Ray White Safe Space Program

YOU CAN SIT WITH ME and Ray White Safe

If your school aged child is travelling to or from school and is lost, being bullied or needs to call home they can get help from a Ray White office displaying the YOU CAN SIT WITH ME safe space sticker.

How NSW schools can tackle a rise in bullying

Many parents suspect their child has experienced bullying in the playground, while others are worried their little one could be the culprit.

School kids that don’t have someone to play with at lunch finally will.

Wentworth Courier
Let's sit together

A child cry for help, a mother’s intuition and the eastern suburbs teacher who took action

Teacher's tips

We spoke to Sophie Whitehouse-Sparks, senior educator, CEO of TutorTime and founder of YOU CAN SIT WITH ME to get some educational teach tips.

Jessica Rowe: YCSWM Ambassador

Standing up for what matters – WITH half a century of experience in the television industry between them, Peter Overton and Jessica Rowe are one of the eastern suburbs’ most recognisable couples.
But it’s the work they do off camera that makes them such an inspiration.

'You can sit with me': charity subverts Mean Girls message

Remember those yellow ‘Livestrong’ wristbands? In 2003, now-infamous cyclist Lance Armstrong created a charity to support cancer research after he developed testicular cancer, and promoted it using the silicone rubber accessories. They soon caught on as a philanthropic status symbol, and became ubiquitous. There were pink ones for breast cancer, white ones to support victims of the …

Mamamia showcases You Can Sit With Me

Mamamia recently interviewed Sophie Sparks about this wonderful initiative.

Article – Wentworth Courier – Jessica Rowe and Peter Overton

Television power couple Jessica Rowe and Peter Overton helping to tackle the growing scourge of bullying.

Kids watch wrists to show kindness

School bands together for anti-bullying campaign

School’s bid for kindness

CAMMERAY Public student Henry Corona is making a big difference at his school with a little wristband
You Can Sit With Me is a kindness campaign and anti-bullying initiative that is growing in popularity in primary schools.

Kidspot: ‘You can sit with me’: The simple idea to stop kids feeling alone at school

Two years ago, teacher Sophie Sparks started ‘You Can Sit With Me’ – an anti-bullying campaign using bright yellow wristbands to let fellow pupils know they are there for them, a strategy to make kids happier and more confident to reach out and ask for friendship. And It Is Working…

Daily Telegraph: You Can Sit With Me initiative takes off at Chipping Norton Public School

Principal Shelley Diamond said the initiative was an amazing opportunity for the kids in a small school setting. “It’s wonderful seeing the leaders who are all kind and caring and want everything to be inclusive embrace this initiative,” she said.

Taking A Stand (with wristbands)

“I know how lonely kids can get at school, so when I saw [the campaign] I thought, ‘this is just perfect’!”

Mumslounge.com.au: We need to stop the senseless loss of victims of bullying

“Bullying is something we’ve all had some sort of experience with. Whether we’ve been the victim, the by-stander or horrifyingly, the initiator, it’s a social issue that is a learned behavior. That’s why we need anti-bullying policies at schools. I also believe we need to go one step further and empower kids to find a safe place or person when they feel lonely or under threat.”

Wentworth Courier: Campaign aims to give every student a friend

Aimed at battling childhood anxiety, depression and loneliness, the program involves yellow wristbands worn by the students to indicate they are happy to sit with someone new.

North Shore Times: Wristbands Unite Youngsters

The Natalia Johnson Dance Academy in Cammeray has signed up to the scheme and it’s proven popular with the young students.

Mosman Daily: Kindness during class is en pointe

“Even though education is moving forward, we seem to have that same problem where children feel anxious, they worry about going to school, and when they’re at school they sometimes feel isolated and that they don’t have anyone to sit with or play with.”

North Shore Mums: ‘You CAN sit with me!’ The teacher making a difference to bullying

It’s the problem that’s all too common- schoolyard bullying. But after seeing how conflict is effecting kids, teacher Sophie Sparks became determined to make a difference. She founded the anti-bullying initiative YOU CAN SIT WITH ME to support children suffering from anxiety, depression and feelings of isolation.

myGC.com.au: #YouCanSitWithMe is an anti bullying campaign set to change the culture of the schoolyard

Children are being encouraged to wear the highly visible band to help put an end to bullying and to make sure all children feel included whether that be at school, at a sporting club or at a community group.Check out our full interview with Natalise Gruzlewski and learn more about the #YouCanSitWithMe initiative in the video below:

Mamamia: Last night, thousands of kids were in their rooms quietly worrying.

We need schools to foster and nurture an inclusive culture. And we need more students to feel empowered to hold out a hand and say: “Hey, you can sit with

Essential Kids: The new anti-bullying campaign #YouCanSitWithMe

Picture this: your child is in the school playground, feeling a bit lost and alone. Where do they go? And, more importantly, with whom do they seek company? You Can Sit With Me campaign aims to make a difference in the schoolyard.

Kambala: YOU CAN SIT WITH ME is an anti-bullying initiative and kindness campaign

“Creating connections for girls is so important in terms of preventative mental health. Friendships can be hard to navigate at times, and having a symbol for openness to non-judgemental connection could provide hope to those who are struggling. We are really excited that YOU CAN SIT WITH ME could be that symbol,” said Dr Tamara Lang (Dean of Wellbeing).

For any Media enquiries contact Sophie Sparks at [email protected]