Bullying Intervention and Prevention

October is Bullying Prevention Month–we will celebrate UNITY DAY on Wednesday, October 16th!

Counselors at Oakridge teach lessons on bully prevention and intervention from the Second Step Program’s Bullying Prevention Unit. All students at Oakridge learn and understand the The 3 R’s of Bullying:

Recognize:

Bullying is when someone keeps being mean to someone else on purpose. The person it’s happening to hasn’t been able to make it stop. It is unfair and one-sided.

Refuse:

If you feel safe, 1) Get calm, 2) Stand straight and tall, 3) Look at the person you are speaking to, 4) Say what you mean in a strong, clear, respectful voice. Example: “Stop! That is mean.”

Report:

Reporting isn’t tattling! Reporting is telling an adult in order to keep people safe. Any time is a good time to report bullying.

More on…BULLYING PREVENTION

What is Bullying?

Bullying is the repeated infliction or attempted infliction of injury, discomfort, or humiliation on a student by one or more students. It is a pattern of intentionally aggressive or hostile behavior that occurs repeatedly over time. Bullying typically includes an imbalance of power. Simply speaking, bullying is behavior that deliberately hurts, frightens, threatens, or excludes someone.

Bullying Can Include:

Name calling
Teasing, making fun of someone
Spreading rumors and gossip
Insulting someone
Telling or writing lies about someone
Expressing sarcasm, subtle negative comments
Excluding specific persons
Pushing, tripping, hitting
Threatening, intimidating or scaring people
Belittling people because of their race or culture
Making sexual comments or innuendos

What Can You Do?

Talk to your child about bullying and harassment.
If you think your child is being bullied, ask him/her what has happened.
Encourage your child to report bullying at school to teachers, school counselors, or the administrators.
Make a follow-up contact with school staff yourself.
For more information on bullying prevention in APS, please visit the APS website.

Another cool resource from the Committee for Children is their Captain Compassion Program. Find it here!