October is Bullying Prevention Month and to raise awareness, School Support Team (SST) members across ACPS are working to teach our students techniques to identify and prevent bullying behaviors.
Through the school counseling program and the SST, students at Jefferson-Houston School have helped to create anonymous boxes in their classrooms where they can submit bullying behavior concerns. Students are encouraged to sign a bully-free pledge that encourages them to Stay “SAFE”: Speak up, Ask for help, Find a friend and Exit the area.
Charles Barrett Elementary School students, parents and staff sign a bully-free pledge each year and partner with their school’s PTA to sponsor a bullying prevention assembly during the school year.
Bullying prevention lessons that focus on kindness and respect are taught at Matthew Maury, Douglas MacArthur and William Ramsay elementary schools and Mount Vernon Community School classrooms at the beginning of and throughout the school year.
At T.C. Williams High School, Monday, October 5 was designated as Blue Shirt Day. Students and staff at T.C. joined teens and adults across the world who wore blue shirts in solidarity to end bullying and cyber-bullying.
Students at Francis C. Hammond Middle School will participate in a unity walk against bullying on October 21. Students and staff will wear orange in unity and display anti-bullying posters around the school building.
Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy and Patrick Henry Elementary School students celebrate bullying prevention by hosting week-long activities that raise awareness and highlight what students can do to build good character and prevent bullying behaviors.
Dr. Marcia Jackson, Director of School Counseling shared,
“Our School Support Team (SST) members include our school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, school nurses and parent liaisons who all work collaboratively with our students, staff and families to promote positive interactions that prevent bullying behaviors. Together, we can teach our students to accept and respect individual differences while building a positive school culture that promotes learning.”
Bullying prevention activities will be ongoing in all schools throughout the month of October and throughout the school year. For more information, please contact the SST members in each school.