Full Notification

Bullying is an increasing concern in our nation and in our schools. It’s time for it to STOP. Together we can make a change in our children’s lives to provide them with a safe and enjoyable school year.

What is bullying? Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.

Bullying can affect everyone those who are bullied, those who bully, and those who witness bullying. Bullying is linked to many negative outcomes including impacts on mental health, substance use, and suicide. It is important to talk to kids to determine whether bullying or something else is a concern.

Mobile phones, email and social networking sites are popular ways of keeping in touch with friends. They can be good fun. Sometimes people can use these things to bully. Mobile phones, social networking sites and email can also be used to say nasty things or spread rumors. It can be good to know how to deal with this sort of bullying. You don’t have to put up with it.

Never give out the address of your home, your school or your phone number on the Internet. It might not seem like it, but the Internet is a public place and people that you would never choose to give your information to, could just see it without you knowing. If you are bullied by text message, keep the message and show an adult.

We know deep down that the one who bullies IS the one with the problem. We know deep down that it is wrong to be unkind. We are all seeking validation. We want to be acknowledged for who we are. We want someone to care. These are natural human needs. Making a choice to be the mean one, to be the bully, steals a part of our soul each time we do so. Choosing to be kind and to offer support and care to someone, even if we feel they don’t deserve it, fills our soul in a positive way. Try and fill your heart with the desire to be more kind and choose this over “mean” even when the circumstances make it difficult to do so.

Have a wonderful school year!