EFFECTIVE WAYS TO PROACTIVELY MANAGE BULLYING Presented by: Marissa Rex Professional School Counselor BACKGROUND INFORMATION  Marissa Rex Professional School Counselor Hiawatha Elementary School Toledo, OH  2nd Year as School Counselor  Additional License: Early Childhood Education  Chi Sigma Iota (Alpha Chapter) President at Ohio University   Hiawatha Elementary, Washington Local Schools 340 Students  50% labeled as “Economically Disadvantaged”  School closure in the district  District lines changed---1/3 of our students reassigned, gained slightly more  WASHINGTON LOCAL SCHOOLS’ DEFINITION OF BULLYING  Definition:  Intentional  Verbal, Physical, Cyber, Relational Has happened before (aggressor targeting this student)  Causes physical or mental harm  Severe, persistent, pervasive  Creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for the target   How I describe it to my students:  Over and over again, same people, on purpose, hurt SCHOOL COUNSELING SERVICES  Individual Counseling Formative Assessment  Play  Games  Art  Sandtray  Every 1-2 weeks  Every month  “As needed”   Counseling notification form SERVICES  Small Group Counseling Games  Team-Building  Challenges  Happy cup, sad cup  Every week, 6-8 weeks  Every week, rotating group  Counseling notification form  Counseling permission form  SERVICES  Classroom-Based Counseling (lessons/units) Menu of services  K-6  Sample lessons  Primary (K-2)  Intermediate (3-6+)  3 lesson unit  1 lesson per month  1 lesson “unit”  SERVICES  Staff Professional Development  Jim Bisenius techniques SERVICES  Staff Professional Development  Student Bullying Video SERVICES  Counselor Mail 2 letters per student each school year  1 letter per classroom each week  During the last week, some classrooms get more (it keeps the Counselor Mail cycle even)  Includes: Hand-written letter  Word search, funny picture, etc.   Reminders during Monday announcements SERVICES  Monthly Newsletter        Message Description of Counseling Services Web Resource Helpful Hints Book List (Monthly Topic) News Etc… SERVICES  Quarterly and Annual Reports        Individual Counseling Small Group Classroom-Based Professional Development Meetings Misc. Tasks Summary OVERVIEW OF SCHOOL-WIDE PROGRAMS  Main Programs: PAWS- Pride, Attitude, Work Habits, Self-Control  Cooperative Games (Fall and Spring)  Mix it Up at Lunch Days  No Name-Calling Awareness Week  Bully Free Awareness Week  Be the Change Day   Focus: Specifics of the Programs  How Hiawatha Organized the Programs  Recognition and Feedback  How to Apply for Awards  Student’s Name: ________________ PAWS CARDS  Goal: Help students recognize their PAWSitive behaviors  Make connections between good behaviors and positive recognition  This student made a difference, showing excellence in… Pride Attitude Work Habits Self-Control  Reward System: Each month, we hold a drawing for students and teachers.  Prizes are pencils, certificate  Grand prize winners get a gift certificate to a book store  COOPERATIVE GAMES  Goal:   Improve school climate How it Works: Divide students into groups (K-6)  Play cooperative games  Have picnic lunch  Fall and Spring    Student Leaders, 1 adult per group Organization:  PE teacher, volunteers, committee COOPERATIVE GAMES MIX IT UP AT LUNCH DAYS  Goal: Help students get to know each other on a more meaningful level.  Improve school climate, students interactions   How it started: Teaching Tolerance website  Building off Cooperative Games (Fall)  Wanted to improve SWIS data  SCHEDULING Sub-committee  2 Groups (A and B)   1 grade level per group Divide students evenly among teachers  Use the regular lunch schedule    Students eat on their Mix it Up Day teacher’s schedule. Discuss with cafeteria manager We did this on a “one choice” day for buyers  Packers can take their lunches with them  or you can line up lunch bins in the cafeteria based on regular classrooms WALL OF INTOLERANCE Classrooms created bricks Wall under bricks was covered with class pictures and our district’s core values COOPERATIVE GAMES/RECESS Built on what we just did with Cooperative Games  Older students are the leaders   Had to change schedule to lunch then recess Recess supervisors call out group numbers (room numbers) instead of grade level when recess is over  They all had a checklist of when groups arrived at recess and when they would need to be picked up  LUNCH Students eat based on their Mix it Up Day teacher’s schedule  Our cafeteria manager was very willing to work with us on this program   Give everyone plenty of notice! CLASSROOM TIME  The time during the lunch/recess block when a group is not at lunch or recess. 11:50-1:15 (lunch/recess block)  Groups most often have “sandwiched” time   Classroom  Lunch  Recess  Classroom NO NAME-CALLING AWARENESS WEEK   Goal:  Continue to improve and maintain building climate Events:  Classroom lessons (sign-up)  Creative Expression Contest      Pictures Songs Sculptures Stories Poems BULLY FREE AWARENESS WEEK  Goal:  Continue to improve and maintain building climate  Events:  Classroom lessons  Door Decorating Contest  Student-driven  Celebration of each classroom’s effort BE THE CHANGE DAY  Currently aimed at our intermediate students   Eventually we hope to incorporate this message in our school-wide efforts Similar to a “Challenge Day” If You Really Knew Me  http://www.challengeday.org/mtv/   Provides students with an opportunity to get to know each other and break down barriers SURVEYS  Jim Bisenius    http://bullyproofingyouth.com/ Code Survey: 1, 1v, 2, and 3 Administer to K-6 K-2 have alternative version (yes/no)  K-1 complete one-on-one, 2 completes as a class   Results to staff (as needed)  Refer to handout SURVEYS  Counselor    District-Wide Staff complete an annual survey of their school counseling services Zoomerang  Can use a free survey system, such as Survey Monkey  Analyze the results  Refer to handout SURVEYS  Bullying (4-6) District-Wide  Zoomerang  Students 4-6 completed   Computer lab or mobile lab  Analyzed results for staff meeting/bullying presentation  Refer to handout DISTRICT POLICIES  Anonymous Reporting System Box on the wall, form  All students trained  Handout   Administrative Investigation Form Primarily for principals  School counselor version for anonymous reporting  RECOGNITION AND FEEDBACK  Awards (2009-2011) Model School Award (National)  Promising Practice Award (State and National)  2011 “Honorable Mention” State School of Character   Grant (2009-2010)   Ohio School Counselor Association Staff Feedback HOW TO APPLY FOR AWARDS/GRANTS  Model School Award   http://www.tolerance.org/mix-it-up/model-schools Character Education Partnership Promising Practice Award  http://www.character.org/applicationprocess  State School of Character  National School of Character  http://www.character.org/nsocapplicationprocess   OSCA Grant  http://www.ohioschoolcounselor.org/Default.aspx?pag eId=536895 FREE MATERIALS!  Sesame Street Workshop   Teaching Tolerance   http://operationrespect.org/index.php Stop Bullying Now!   www.teachingtolerance.org Operation Respect   www.sesameworkshop.org/initiatives www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/kids Other websites:      www.storybird.com www.pacerteensagainstbullying.org www.athinline.org www.stopcyberbullying.org/index2.html www.schcounselor.com CONCLUSION Whether you are a new counselor or a veteran, you can help proactively manage bullying!  A positive attitude and strong work ethic goes a LONG way and can change people’s view of the counseling field.  You do NOT have to do this alone!  Contact information: Marissa Rex (419) 473-8266 mrex@wls4kids.org