Welcome to the Stonehouse Elementary School Fall Parent Seminar

1. When you arrive, please… *complete a name tag for yourself.*sign in on the Sign-In Sheet. *enjoy the refreshments! Welcome to the Stonehouse Elementary School Fall Parent Seminar

2. Bullying Prevention What Parents and Children Should Know and Do Conor O’Neill, School Psychology Practicum Student Gary Waynick, School Counselor Jennifer Tingley, School Psychologist

3. Bullying is “intentional repeated oppression, physical or psychological, which over time inflicts or threatens to inflict physical or emotional injury or discomfort upon another person’s body, feelings, or possessions. Bullying may be overt or covert.” (WJCC Schools definition) Prevalence Recent studies show that between 15-20% of students report being bullied with some frequency. Basic Facts

4. Characteristics of a Bully Typically stronger physically, psychologically, or socially than the children they bully. Creates an imbalance of power and/or strength between the bully and victim. Key difference between a normal conflict and bullying Basic Facts

5. What Can It Look Like? Physical assaults; verbal/physical threats or gestures; intentional exclusion from others; rumors; repeated name calling may be overt or covert. Boys vs. Girls Boys: Typically engage in overt behaviors such as physical assaults or verbal threats Girls: Engage in more indirect means of bullying such as intentionally excluding others from an activity and spreading rumors Basic Facts

6. Effects of bullying Bullying can interfere with students’ learning and engagement in school. Chronic victims of bullying can experience physical and mental health problems as well as depression and low self-esteem. The negative effects of bullying can also create fear and anxiety for not only the victim, but also the bystanders who observe the bullying. Bullies themselves have a higher likelihood of underachievement in school and are more likely to become abusive in future relationships or engage in criminal activity as adults. Bullying limits the opportunities for a safe, healthy, learning environment. Basic Facts

7. At Stonehouse Elementary School The Bully-Proofing Your School Program Since 2003 Early, preventive program against bullying behaviors Supports a physically and psychologically positive and safe environment Supports Stonehouse’s Student Commitments Encourages a “caring majority” What Can Students Do?

8. Bully-Proofing Your School Program Principles Adults have a responsibility to ensure that school is safe to support learning. Bullies, when confronted with a unified group of adults and peers in school, are defused. Bullying is not the same as conflict. Bullying prevention is most effective when children hear the same message from many sources. Punishment alone is effective only to a point. What Can Students Do?

9. Bully-Proofing Your School Program Topics at Stonehouse Definition of bullying Normal conflict vs. bullying Bully behaviors and their impact Roles of the bully, victim, and witness/bystander Strategies for the victim and witness HA HA SO Tattling vs. telling What Can Students Do?

10. Bully-Proofing Your School HA HA SO H=Help Get help from an adult, especially if you feel unsafe. A=Assert Yourself Use your words to tell the bully what you need. H=Huddle Join together with peers to avoid being bullied. A=Avoid Walk away or ignore to avoid a bullying situation. S=Self Talk Silently remind yourself that you are important. O=Own It Agree with the bully’s comments or use humor to defuse the bullying. What Can Students Do?

11. Know the Warning Signs of Victimization Anxiety or Fear of Attending School Frequent complaints about not feeling well as a way to avoid going to school Bruises or other unexplained physical marks How does your child respond when questioned about his/her bruises? What Can Parents Do?

12. Know the Warning Signs of Victimization Talk about not being liked at school or remarks about wanting to hurt or get back at someone. Low self-esteem and difficulty being assertive What Can Parents Do?

13. Steps You Can Take If You Suspect Your Child Is Being Bullied Talk to the teacher, administrator, school counselor, or school psychologist. Talk to your child about his/her feelings about school. Ask what takes place or what he/she does during free time. Focus on different aspects of the day. What Can Parents Do?

14. Steps You Can Take If You Suspect Your Child Is Being Bullied Ensure appropriate supervision in activities outside of school. Report any incidents of bullying to school officials. What Can Parents Do?

15. Helpful Tips Encourage your child to report an incident of bullying immediately. Emphasize that reporting bullying is not tattling and that reporting such behavior allows for parents and school officials to intervene and provide help. Let your children know that they do not have to face this alone. What Can Parents Do?

16. Helpful Tips Help your child learn positive ways to deal with anger and frustration. Role play bullying situations and discuss what your child can do when bullied (e.g., use HA HA SO strategies) HA HA SO What Can Parents Do?

17. Helpful Tips Encourage your child to talk about bullying with their peers. Bullies rarely target kids in groups, so maintaining a peer group can be a positive, protective factor. Do not advise the bullied child to fight the bully. Fighting is a violation of the school’s student conduct code. What Can Parents Do?

18. Helpful Tips Do not confront the child who has been bullying your child. This may only escalate the situation and make things worse. Do not blame either the victim or the bully. Get all the facts before you decide what action to take. What Can Parents Do?

19. What To Do If Your Child May Be Bullying Others Discuss the school’s bullying policy as well as your own expectations for your child. Explain whom it can harm and why it is not acceptable. When talking with your child about his/her bullying behavior, try and refrain from a confrontation tone and communicate in a calm manner. What Can Parents Do?

20. What To Do If Your Child May Be Bullying Others Role play alternatives to aggressive behavior and reward such replacement behaviors. Establish clear rules and expectations about aggressive behavior and bullying. Develop clear consequences and enforce consistently. What Can Parents Do?

21. What To Do If Your Child May Be Bullying Others Report any incidents of bullying to school officials to demonstrate your intolerance of bullying and to reinforce the child’s judgment and actions. What Can Parents Do?

22. Practice and Questions

23. How Does It Feel to be a Bully?

24. Bullying Online – www.bullying.co.uk Although geared toward UK schools, useful information for parents Bullypolice – www.bullypolice.org List of states with anti-bullying laws with links to other sites Committee for Children – www.cfchildren.org/issues/bully/ Information on bullying and bullying prevention KidsHealth – www.kidshealth.org Much information on bullying including “Bullying and Your Child” NASP Resource Library – www.nasponline.org/resources/index.aspx Several links with suggestions for parents and teachers about bullying (National Association of School Psychologists) Stop Bullying Now –http://stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/adults/default.aspx Tips and useful information for parents, educators, and students Bully-Proofing Your School: Working with Victims and Bullies in Elementary Schools by Garrity, Jens, Porter, Sager, and Short-Camilli Resources and References