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MONROE — Monroe-Woodbury School District officials are calling next week’s parent/community presentation of its Olweus bullying prevention program the public launch of one of the most important initiatives the district has undertaken in recent memory.

The program will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. at the Monroe-Woodbury Middle School auditorium and officials are using methods such as e-mails, texting, automated calls and information on its Web site (www.mw.k12.ny.us) to let the community know about its significance and to encourage attendance.

“You cannot educate children if they do not feel safe and protected,” School Superintendent Edward Mehrhof said in an interview Wednesday. “One of the biggest issues in schools today is bullying and what constitutes bullying. Olweus is more than an anti-bullying program; it is a more of a character education program. It involves parents and the community. What I like about it is that it’s all-inclusive. This is certainly one of the most important initiatives we have ever undertaken.”

‘Won’t happen overnight’

Officials plan to show parents, community, business and civic leaders Olweus’ school, classroom, individual, community and parental components. They also plan to discuss the staff training already completed.

“This is huge,” said Rolando Aguilar, middle school assistant principal. “We want to get partnerships established and get everyone involved. Olweus is not the solution, but it’s part of the cure. This will not happen overnight. The goal is to reduce bullying incidents and to build peer relationships.”

Middle school guidance counselor Matt DiGiovanni agreed: “The beauty is that it works on four school rules. Our school personnel will be speaking the same language. If they see something going on, they know how to intervene. “

Aguilar hoped parents and community leaders will take time from their schedules to learn about the district’s plans.

“We’re reaching out to the community,” Aguilar added. “We’re putting everything out on the table and showing them what we’ve done so far. This is an important overview of what Olweus is and we want to answer everyone’s questions.”

To learn more, call Aguilar at 460-6400.

- Nancy Kriz

What is Olweus?

The Olweus Program (pronounced Ol-VEY-us; the E sounds like a long A) is a comprehensive, school-wide program designed and evaluated for use in elementary, middle, junior high or high schools. The program’s goals are to reduce and prevent bullying problems among school children and to improve peer relations at school.

The program has been found to reduce bullying among children, improve the social climate of classrooms, and reduce related antisocial behaviors, such as vandalism and truancy. The program has been implemented in more than a dozen countries around the world, and in thousands of schools nationwide.

The program was created by Norwegian researcher Dr. Dan Olweus.

To learn more, visit: www.olweus.org.



The Olweus definition of bullying:

“Bullying is when someone repeatedly and on purpose says or does mean or hurtful things to another person.”

The Monroe-Woodbury School District’s four anti-bullying rules:

1. We will not bully others.

2. We will try to help students who are bullied.

3. We will try to include students who are left out.

4. If we know that somebody is being bullied, we will tell an adult at school and an adult at home.

These rules are now posted in prominent places in all Monroe-Woodbury schools.



If you go:

The Monroe-Woodbury School District’s parental/community launch of its Olweus anti-bullying program is Wednesday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. at the Monroe Woodbury Middle School. At the meeting, learn about this and more:

What roles do students play in bullying situations?

A = Students who bully:

Start the bullying and take an active part

B = Followers:

Take an active part, but do not start the bullying

C = Supporters:

Support the bullying, but do not take an active part

D = Passive supporters:

Like the bullying, but do not display open support

E = Disengaged onlookers

F = Possible defenders:

Dislike the bullying and think they out to help, but don’t do it

G = Defenders:

Dislike the bullying, help or try to help the bullied student

H = Student who is bullied

To learn more, call 460-6400.