ACPS is raising awareness about bullying and is committed to bringing an end to bullying in our school division. Throughout the month of October, staff at every school are engaging students in activities that educate, inform and empower students to recognize and respond appropriately to bullying behavior.
Students at most schools are taking a Bully Free Pledge. Here is a summary of what else is going on at individual schools this month to encourage students to be kind to one another in order to build positive and respectful relationships:
Students at John Adams Elementary School are learning about “bucket filling,” the concept filling someone else’s bucket by showing respect and giving compliments.
Charles Barrett Elementary School students are engaging in lessons the help them understand what behaviors are considered bullying and what to do if they see someone being bullied or are being bullied themselves,
Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy hosted a No-Bully-Zone Assembly and will continue bullying prevention lessons in all classrooms throughout the month.
At Patrick Henry Elementary School, students are learning about the bullying triangle: bully, victim and bystander and ways to report bullying. They are also learning about character and social and emotional learning.
Students at Jefferson-Houston School are receiving a daily dose of bullying prevention tips during morning announcements and will host a spirit week with a bullying Prevention theme.
At Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology, students have been learning about character, showing respect and being a good friend. Each day a student’s thoughts about how to be a friend and not a bully are shared during morning announcements.
Douglas Macarthur Elementary School is using grade-level bulletin boards highlighting fairness and respect and they are reminding students to focus on kindness, understanding, acceptance and empathy during morning announcements. They are also holding October as the Un-Random Act of Kindness Challenge to have students each classroom fill the calender with acts of kindness each day.
George Mason Elementary School students are engaging in classroom lessons about recognizing and preventing bullying behavior. After the lessons, student take home bully free pledge to complete with their parents. Families also receive age-appropriate with strategies they can use to address bullying behavior.
Students at Matthew Maury Elementary School will host “Don’t Stand By – Stand Up, Stand Strong, Stand Together,” activities on October 12. They are also introducing the Bully Box and learning strategies to identify bullying behavior and how to deal with it.
Mount Vernon Community School will cap their month-long series of grade-level counseling lessons with an assembly to reinforce the lessons learned throughout the month.
James K. Polk Elementary School students wore blue on October 3 in accordance with the worldwide Stomp Out Bullying Campaign and will host a grand assembly on Friday, October 21to reinforce the learning throughout the month.
Students at William Ramsay Elementary School are focusing on a positive word of the week and sharing a daily bullying prevention quote or fact during morning announcements. They are also hosting a bully prevention workshop for parents.
Samuel Tucker Elementary School students are mixing it up with trivia questions; lessons on respect, kindness and empathy; and a month-long Un-Random Acts of Kindness Challenge.
Students at George Washington and Francis C. Hammond Middle Schools will each host a unity walk on October 19. Hammond will also celebrate National Mix It Up day encouraging students to mix it up during lunch with activities to help them get to know each other and eliminate biases. G.W. will have a wall pledge for bullying prevention for each grade level and will engage in classroom activities.
At the T.C. Williams Minnie Howard Campus will host a bullying prevention door decorating contest this week and is engaging in activities that encourage students to be mindful of other people’s feelings and to persevere in the face of unwholesome situations. The King Street Campus is partnering witht he Actively Caring Foundation to provide presentations promoting a positive culture. They have also started a “Sit with me” program where student leaders host a table in the cafeteria so that no student eats alone. The Satellite Campus is hosting a community circle to increase awareness of bullying behavior and what to do about it. They are also focusing on increasing and recognizing acts of kindness.
Bullying prevention activities are also going on throughout the City. Learn more.
Additional bullying prevention resources can be found at:
Please consult with your School Support Team (SST) for additional ideas on preventing bullying in your school.