Ferguson Police Anti-Bullying Message

anti bullying

With the struggle of balancing work, finances, after-school activities, and family obligations, it can be easy to overlook some of the silent struggles our children may be facing. Bullying is something many children face and it can sometimes be difficult to pick up on signs that it is taking place, as a child may keep the issue to themselves. Bullying can happen in a number of ways, including verbal taunting, physical encounters, being excluded, being targeted online, among others.

The best way to prevent bullying it through being a positive influence in your child's life. Teach through example how to be accepting, caring and compassionate to others. 

Identifying the signs that bullying is taking place may not be outwardly evident, this is why it is important to have regular conversations with your child. Be up-to-date on what they do at school, who their friends are, their favorite courses, and so on. Being aware of your child's phone and internet usage is also important. Set limits for how long your child can be online and know which apps they are using, as some social apps are known to foster negative body imagery, hate speech, and trolling.

Media and Communications Manager for the State College Area School District, Nabil K. Mark, explains:

When it comes to bullying, every State College Area School District building has established a school-wide positive behavior supports (SWPBS) program that is unique to the school while still maintaining the common philosophy laid out in our four pillars of instructional focus. Two of these pillars are:

  • Culture of Trust, Relationships and Collaboration
  • Welcoming and Safe Climate for Learning and Work

These two pillars directly relate to our inclusive school climate and a zero-tolerance approach to harassment or bullying. Every school takes the initiative to prevent bullying through our SWPBS programs, which educate students on the effects of bullying and the importance of accepting all students for who they are. 

We take any accusation of bullying seriously and if you, or someone you know, is being bullied, please reach out to any teacher or principal so we can resolve the situation in a restorative manner.

To learn more about the State College Area School District's response to bullying, visit Student Services / District-Wide Behavior Programs.

anti bullying