Bullying Prevention Overview

1. Bullying: Policy Definition Project Goals Project Description Bullying Prevention Overview Sample Action Plan Denver Public Schools Prevention & Intervention Initiatives & Office of Safe & Drug Free Schools & Communities Bob Anderson, Gene Jacquez Resources Curriculum Procedures State’s Attorney’s Recommendations for Schools Back to Switchboard

2. Instructions: • Delete sample document icon and replace with working document icons as follows: • Create document in Word. • Return to PowerPoint. • From Insert Menu, select Object… • Click “Create from File” • Locate File name in “File” box • Make sure “Display as Icon” is checked. • Click OK • Select icon • From Slide Show Menu, Select Action Settings. • Click “Object Action” and select “Edit” • Click OK DPS Bullying Policy: JICDE-Bullying Prevention and Education Bullying is defined "as any written or verbal expression, or physical act or gesture, or pattern thereof, that is intended to cause distress upon one or more students in the school, on school grounds, in school vehicles, at a designated school bus stop, or at school activities or sanctioned events." Title Slide

3. Instructions: • Delete sample document icon and replace with working document icons as follows: • Create document in Word. • Return to PowerPoint. • From Insert Menu, select Object… • Click “Create from File” • Locate File name in “File” box • Make sure “Display as Icon” is checked. • Click OK • Select icon • From Slide Show Menu, Select Action Settings. • Click “Object Action” and select “Edit” • Click OK Bullying Prevention Goals • To support a secure school environment free from threats, harassment and bullying • Related to Student conduct and discipline • Legislation of last spring and Office of Safe & Drug Free Schools Year End Report Title Slide

4. Instructions: • Delete sample document icon and replace with working document icons as follows: • Create document in Word. • Return to PowerPoint. • From Insert Menu, select Object… • Click “Create from File” • Locate File name in “File” box • Make sure “Display as Icon” is checked. • Click OK • Select icon • From Slide Show Menu, Select Action Settings. • Click “Object Action” and select “Edit” • Click OK Description of Comprehensive Bullying Program • Message – bullying not allowed • Survey – extent of bullying at your school • Monitor – bullying activities routinely • Discuss problems and action plan • Review supervision of “hot spots” • School wide rules, sanctions, and kick-off • Consequences (+ & -) designed to modify bullying behaviors • Support for victims • Parent and community involvement. • “Coordinator for the Cause: Someone/group owns the task Title Slide

5. Instructions: • Delete sample document icon and replace with working document icons as follows: • Create document in Word. • Return to PowerPoint. • From Insert Menu, select Object… • Click “Create from File” • Locate File name in “File” box • Make sure “Display as Icon” is checked. • Click OK • Select icon • From Slide Show Menu, Select Action Settings. • Click “Object Action” and select “Edit” • Click OK Team/Resources to support Principals • Resources for bullying initiative • “Preventing Bullying: A Manual for Schools & Communities” available from the Office of Safe & Drug Free Schools & Communities • Staff to monitor bullying activities • Gene Jacquez – address staff and parents • Checklist of consequences for bullying to change behaviors • Therapists to deal with victims • C/SATs can function as coordinating committee Title Slide

6. Instructions: • Delete sample document icon and replace with working document icons as follows: • Create document in Word. • Return to PowerPoint. • From Insert Menu, select Object… • Click “Create from File” • Locate File name in “File” box • Make sure “Display as Icon” is checked. • Click OK • Select icon • From Slide Show Menu, Select Action Settings. • Click “Object Action” and select “Edit” • Click OK Sample Action Plan Title Slide

7. THE ROLE OF SCHOOLS IN PREVENTING BULLYING* • REDUCE, IF NOT ELIMINATE, EXISTING BULLY PROBLEMS among students in and outside of the school setting. The school should be a safe and positive learning environment for ALL students. • PREVENT the development of new bully problems. • ACHIEVE BETTER PEER RELATIONS AT SCHOOL. Create conditions that specifically foster more constructive interactions between victims and bullies. This will allow them to get along and function better in and outside of the school setting. *Strategies from the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, as presented by no-bully website: http://no-bully.com/teachers.html Title Slide

8. SCHOOL-LEVEL INTERVENTIONS* • ESTABLISH A BULLYING PREVENTION COORDINATING COMMITTEE. This committee will coordinate all aspects of a school's violence prevention efforts, including anti-bullying efforts. • ADMINISTER AN ANONYMOUS QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY. A student questionnaire can determine the nature and extent of bully problems in the school. • HOLD A SCHOOL CONFERENCE DAY. Raise school and community awareness and involvement by creating a long-term anti-bullying plan. In addition to school personnel, selected students and parents should participate. * From the no-bully website: http://no-bully.com/teachers.html

9. SCHOOL-LEVEL INTERVENTIONS*continued • IMPROVE SUPERVISION AND OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT. Provide adequate number of adults ("teacher density") during lunch, recess, and breaks in an effort to intervene quickly in student conflicts. • INVOLVE PARENTS. Conduct meetings with and disseminate information to parents at the school to make them aware of the school's anti-bullying plan of action. * From the no-bully website: http://no-bully.com/teachers.html

10. CLASSROOM-LEVEL INTERVENTIONS* • ESTABLISH CLASSROOM RULES AGAINST BULLYING. Involve students in creating rules against bullying in order to develop a student's personal responsibility for conforming to those rules. • LISTEN RESPECTFULLY to bullying concerns raised by students, parents, and school staff. • CREATE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF BULLYING. Establish social reinforcement (i.e., praise, friendly attention) for positive behavior and nonphysical sanctions for undesirable behavior. Negative consequences should be appropriate and related to the behavior. Extra assignments, such as homework or copying from a dictionary, should not be used. * From the no-bully website: http://no-bully.com/teachers.html

11. CLASSROOM-LEVEL INTERVENTIONS*continued • HOLD REGULAR CLASSROOM MEETINGS. Provide a forum for students and teachers to develop, clarify, and evaluate rules for anti-bullying behavior. • ENLIST CLASSMATES TO HELP alleviate the plight of victims. Use co-operative learning groups to include less popular, more timid students in small, positive and accepting social groups. • MEET WITH PARENTS. Hold general classroom or grade-level meetings with parents to improve school-family communication and keep parents informed about anti-bullying efforts. • DEVELOP A CURRICULUM that promotes communication, friendship, and assertiveness skills. * From the no-bully website: http://no-bully.com/teachers.html

12. INDIVIDUAL-LEVEL INTERVENTIONS* • HAVE A SERIOUS TALK WITH THE BULLY, this should happen immediately. • DOCUMENT INVOLVEMENT and participation in bullying. • Send a clear, strong message that BULLYING IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. • Expect that the bully will try to minimize and deny their actions and responsibility. REFER TO SCHOOL AND CLASS CODES OF CONDUCT in telling the bully why their behavior was unacceptable. • Advise the bully that future BEHAVIOR WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORED. • Warn the bully that additional NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES WILL BE ADMINISTERED if bullying behavior does not stop. * From the no-bully website: http://no-bully.com/teachers.html

13. INDIVIDUAL-LEVEL INTERVENTIONS* continued • HAVE A SERIOUS TALK WITH THE VICTIM. Talks with the victim and their parents should occur AS SOON AS POSSIBLE after a bullying incident and should happen SEPARATELY FROM THE BULLY. • DOCUMENT specific bullying episodes. Include how the bullying started, what happened, how it ended, who participated, and who witnessed it. • PROVIDE THE VICTIM WITH INFORMATION about the teacher's plan of action in dealing with the bully. Reassure them that all possible steps will be taken to prevent a recurrence. • Attempt to PERSUADE THE VICTIM TO IMMEDIATELY REPORT ANY NEW BULLYING EPISODES to the teacher. * From the no-bully website: http://no-bully.com/teachers.html

14. INDIVIDUAL-LEVEL INTERVENTIONS* slide 3 • MONITOR THE BEHAVIOR OF THE BULLY and the safety of the victim on a school-wide basis. • INVOLVE THE PARENTS. When a bullying situation is discovered, the teacher should contact the parents concerned. Depending on the situation, meetings can be held together with the parents of both the bully and the victim; or to minimize tension meetings can be held with each family separately. A teacher might want to invite the school psychologist, guidance counselor, or principal to attend. * From the no-bully website: http://no-bully.com/teachers.html

15. INDIVIDUAL-LEVEL INTERVENTIONS* slide 4 • FOLLOW UP IN COMMUNICATING with parents and with other teachers and administrators about the situation, until it is clearly resolved. Send copies of all reports to parents of the students involved and place them in the students' files. • CHANGE OF CLASS OR SCHOOL. If anti-bullying measures are in place and the problem persists despite these measures, moving the aggressive student can bring about change. If possible, the aggressive student should be moved before considering moving the victim. This solution should not be taken lightly, and all concerned parents and teachers should plan and consult with each other. * From the no-bully website: http://no-bully.com/teachers.html

16. CONSEQUENCES OF BULLYING BEHAVIOR* • Establishing rules against bullying necessitates creating positive or negative consequences for following or violating rules. • The best results are obtained through a combination of generous verbal praise or other social reinforcements for positive activities and consistent negative consequences for aggressive, rule-violating behavior. • Teachers should establish a positive, friendly, and trusting relationship with the class and each individual student. • This is especially true for aggressive, acting-out students who may have had negative experiences with adults. * From the no-bully website: http://no-bully.com/teachers.html

17. CONSEQUENCES OF BULLYING BEHAVIOR II* • It is easier for a student to accept criticism if he/she feels appreciated and liked. • Teachers should also be aware of their own behavior. • Teachers often serve as "models" for students who respect them and may wish to emulate them. • Likewise, students will not respect the teacher or classroom rules against bullying if the teacher is sarcastic, unfair, or abusive. * From the no-bully website: http://no-bully.com/teachers.html

18. Instructions: • Delete sample document icon and replace with working document icons as follows: • Create document in Word. • Return to PowerPoint. • From Insert Menu, select Object… • Click “Create from File” • Locate File name in “File” box • Make sure “Display as Icon” is checked. • Click OK • Select icon • From Slide Show Menu, Select Action Settings. • Click “Object Action” and select “Edit” • Click OK Curriculum Procedures • Olweus Bullying Prevention • Steps to Respect • Second Step violence prevention • Life Skills Training • Preventive Intervention (Surgeon Gen. Rep.) • PATHS (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies)(Surgeon Gen. Rep. promising) Slides Slides Slides Slides Slide Slide Title Slide

19. Prevention Curricula Implementation Training:Three Year History 1999-2002 LST*: Life Skills Training; currently 320 staff have been trained. SS*: Second Step; currently 1223 staff have been trained.

20. Community/School Assistance TeamsInterventions, three year history CSATs In Depth Title Slide

21. Preventive Intervention • Two-year, school-based, behavioral reinforcement program that begins in 7th grade and targets students with low academic motivation, family problems, or disciplinary problems. • The intervention includes behavior monitoring and reinforcement in the classroom as well as enhanced communication (through regular classroom meetings and reports to parents) between teachers, students, and parents regarding behavior and attendance at school. • Promising level 2 program (Risk Prevention) in Surgeon General’s Report on Youth Violence Back to Curriculum Slide

22. PATHS: (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies) • Elementary curriculum • Targets the following areas: • emotional competence (expression, understanding, and regulation) • Self-control • Social competence • Positive peer relations • Interpersonal problem-solving skills • Three times/week, 20-30 minutes per session • Positive impact on several violence risk factors: • Aggressive behavior • Anxiety and depression • Conduct problems • Lack of self-control Back to Curriculum Slide