The family of a 12-year-old girl who was allegedly bullied at a Sydney private school before taking her own life have broken their silence.
Charlotte, a Year 7 student at Santa Sabina College at Strathfield in the city’s inner-west, took her own life earlier this month.
On Monday, Charlotte’s family spoke out in a statement issued to 2GB host Ben Fordham, demanding the bullying they claim drove their daughter into helpless despair not be swept under the carpet.
‘Hi Ben, earlier this week our family experienced a day that will haunt us for the rest of our lives,’ the statement read.
‘We lost our baby girl in the most awful of circumstances. She was just 12 years old.
‘No words can ever describe what it’s like for us, and it will never be the same again,’ the letter continued.
‘Charlotte has left such a big hole in our lives, and she’s so deeply, deeply missed.
‘The reports you have received are correct. My daughter was bullied by girls that still attend the school today.
‘She wrote a goodbye note specifically mentioning the bullying she received at the school.
Charlotte’s family said they were once asked to pick her up from school because she had been crying in the toilets
Last week 12-year-old Santa Sabina College Year 7 student Charlotte took her life and her family say school bullying drove her to complete
‘She said life was too difficult for her to continue.
‘When the most recent case of bullying was raised, the school simply said it was investigated and the girls denied it. That’s it. Case closed. Move on.
‘Well my beautiful daughter’s life won’t move on and I’ll never get to say goodbye.
‘These issues cannot be swept under the carpet. I will not let my daughter’s memory be swept under the carpet either.
‘How many more children need to lose their lives before they get it? How many parents need to feel the pain of never being able to pick up their child from school again before they get it?
‘We’re broken forever.’
Fordham said the family had told him for two years they had complained about Charlotte being bullied at Santa Sabina College.
The family said on ‘one particular day the school called mum to arrange for Charlotte to be picked up because Charlotte had been crying in the toilets’.
‘She told the girl who found her “I don’t want to be here”. She told her mum “My body fills with pain until my heart explodes”,’ Fordham said.
On the night she died Charlotte sent a friend a photo of herself crying with the simple caption; ‘I am sorry’. Her friend sent a series of increasingly worried messages back
Fordham also interviewed a father whose daughter befriended Charlotte outside of the school she attended in Strathfield.
The dad, who only went by the name of Jason, said his daughter experienced bullying in primary school and this was in part why she bonded with Charlotte, who continually said bullies at her school were making life a living hell.
On the night Charlotte took her life Jason said she sent his daughter a text message and photo.
The photo was of Charlotte crying and the caption read simply: ‘I am sorry.’
Jason’s daughter then sent a series of increasingly pleading replies.
‘Charlotte you are scaring me,’ was the first message.
She then sent: ‘Charlotte? Charlotte? Answer.’
‘I want to know you are alright,’ the daughter wrote after again getting no reply.
‘Charlotte, please, I am here for you,’ was her final message.
‘I am very proud of my daughter,’ Jason said before dissolving into tears while trying to express the ‘heartbreak’ of Charlotte’s family.
Fordham said he has also been in email conversation with Santa Sabina College principal Paulina Skerman, had sent a message to the school community.
Ms Skerman thanked everybody for the ‘outpouring of love and support’ for Charlotte.
‘I also need to address my concerns about allegations made about bullying at Santa Sabina, she wrote.
‘Such claims are extremely serious and are being treated as such.’
Ms Skerman said the school’s anti-bullying police, which is on its website, dictates that the ‘response when required is always quick, measured and fair, with a commitment to ensuring the safety of all involved’.
The message urged anyone with knowledge or evidence of bullying to report it ‘through formal channels’.
‘It adds nothing to make such claims the speculation of gossip. Speculation at this time is hurtful and unnecessary.’
While the segment was on air Fordham said he had received a message from Charlotte’s mum, Kelly, which he read out.
‘Thank you for standing up for Charlotte, something I feel I failed to do,’ Kelly wrote.
Santa Sabina College principal Paulina Skerman has sent a message to the school community saying ‘speculation’ and ‘gossip’ about the tragedy are not helpful
‘Please, I must stress and I beg I do not wish any little girls to feel responsible for this.
‘I don’t want any other mum not being able to wake up their child in the morning.
‘They are also just little girls so they don’t understand.
‘Charlotte made a mistake on a moment of grief, she did not meant to do this, she did not understand.’
Santa Sabina College sent a statement on Monday in reply to questions from Daily Mail Australia.
‘A number of claims are being made about the circumstances that led to her (Charlotte’s) death – these are new claims to the College and are not consistent with our records,’ the statement said.
‘In the outpouring of grief as everyone rightly questions how this could have happened, the College asks the media to take immense care in reporting so that further issues are not created for other vulnerable young people in our community and beyond.
‘The main priority of the College at the moment is to support and care for our students, their families and our staff as well as support for this grieving family.’
The College said it was continuing to work with counsellors, Headspace and other experts to provide the fullest support.
However, it said ‘mental health experts’ advised further media coverage ‘offers nothing positive for their grieving family or community’ and creates ‘further vulnerabilities for young people … who are at risk because of what they hear and read’.
‘While the College supports the idea of raising awareness of mental health challenges, we have to take into account that children are involved and this situation needs to be carefully navigated,’ the statement said.
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