TUXEDO The George Grant Mason School is taking proactive steps to stop and prevent bullying by adopting the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, a research-based school wide systems-change program has been used successfully in schools across the country and around the world with positive results.
According to information provided by Principal Barbara Geoghan, the Olweus Program is not a curriculum that students participate in for only a few weeks. Rather, it is a coordinated effort by all the adults in the school to supervise and intervene when any bullying happens. As part of the program, students participate in weekly class meetings to learn about the effects of bullying, what they can do about it, and how they can work with adults at school to put a stop to it even as bystanders. Parents have meetings too, so they can support the messages students are getting in school.
The kick-off week of the Olweus Program at the George Grant Mason School began on Jan. 17 and was organized by Committee Coordinators Kelly Fosstveit, the K-12 intervention specialist; art teacher Cindy Lyons; and second grade teacher Rene Blume.
Assembly programs included Bully-Proof Your School: The Magic of Character (James Vagias), Uncle Brothers (Danny Quinn and Tommy Gardner ), and Get a Grip (Camfel Productions), which engaged the students in learning about the bullyproofing rules and principles.
Each classroom illustrated posters to decorate the school and participated in class meetings. Throughout the week students participated in contests to create jingles, bookmarks and T-shirts.
A Cyberbullying program for parents presented by the Cornell University Cooperative Extension is being scheduled for February.
The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, Geoghan said, is about changing the whole school climate to make it a safer, more positive place to learn.