Bradford Area School District

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Bradford Area School District

• Olweus Bullying Prevention Program

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Mission Statement

• Our mission is to make our school a safe and
  positive place to learn.
• The goal is to reduce and prevent bullying
  problems among students and to improve peer
  relations.

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Bullying Awareness Prevention Program

• The Bradford Area School District has adopted the
  
• Olweus Bullying Prevention Program
• to be implemented at all four of the school
  buildings.

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Olweus Bullying Prevention Program

• Is a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
  Administration (SAMHSA) Model Program with proven
  results.
• One of 10 nationally recognized Violence
  Prevention Programs.
• The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2004

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Olweus Bullying Prevention Program Research
Findings

• A 30-70 reduction in student reports of being
  bullied and bullying others.
• Significant reductions in student reports of
  general anti-social behavior.
• Significant improvements in classroom order and
  discipline.
• More positive attitude toward schoolwork and
  school.
• The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2004

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Olweus Bullying Prevention Program

• Multi-level, multi-component school-based program
  designed to prevent and reduce bullying.
• Attempts to restructure the existing school
  environment to reduce opportunities and rewards
  for bullying.
• The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2004

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Olweus Bullying Prevention Program

• School staff, including administration, teachers,
  guidance counselors, and non-teaching staff, is
  responsible for introducing and implementing the
  program.
• The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2004

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Olweus Bullying Prevention Program

• Staff efforts are directed towards improving peer
  relations and making the school a safe and
  positive place for students to learn and develop.
• The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2004

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Benefits of Olweus

• Reduces existing bullying/victim problems
• Prevents development of new cases of bullying
• Improves peer relations at the school
• Improves overall school climate
• The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2004

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Olweus Bullying Program IS

• School-Wide effort
• Systems-oriented Individual-oriented
• Prevention problem solving
• Focused on changing norms and behavior
• Research-based
• NOT time limited Requires efforts over time
• The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2004

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Olweus Bullying Program is NOT

• A curriculum
• A conflict resolution approach
• A peer mediation program
• An anger management program
• The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2004

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Olweus Bullying Prevention Program Three Key
Elements

• School-Wide Elements
• Classroom-Level Elements
• Individual Intervention Elements
• The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2004

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School-Wide Elements

• Administer a Bullying Questionnaire
• Form a Bullying Prevention Committee
• Staff Training
• Development of School-Wide Rules against Bullying
• The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2004

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School-Wide Elements (con.)

• Increase supervision in hot spots
• Development of positive and negative consequences
• Hold Kick-Off Events
• Gain Parent Community Support
• The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2004

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Classroom-Level Elements

• Regular classroom meetings about bullying and
  related topics
• Post and discuss school anti-bullying rules
• Consistent use of positive negative
  consequences
• The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2004

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Individual Intervention Elements

• Intervene on-the-spot when bullying occurs
• Hold follow-up discussions with the bully
• Hold follow-up discussions with the target of the
  bullying
• Involve parents of the students involved in the
  incident
• The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2004

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Current Program Progress

• Administration of a bullying survey to students,
  faculty/staff, and parents during January 2005.
• Presentation of survey results to the Bradford
  Board of Education community.
• Presentation of survey results to teachers at a
  faculty meeting.

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Current Program Progress

• PowerPoint presentation of survey results
  available on the Bradford Area School District
  website.
• Adoption of a Board Policy on Bullying during
  February 2005.
• Board Policy Summary sent home to all parents in
  the district during March 2005.

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Current Program Progress

• Board Policy Summary available on the Bradford
  Area School District website.
• Established administrative procedures for dealing
  with incidence of bullying.
• Increased supervision in bullying hot spots,
  especially in the hallways.

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Current Program Progress

• Continuation of guidance lessons that focus on
  anti-bullying and improvement of peer relations.
• Created programs to provide positive
  reinforcement for students that display
  appropriate interpersonal relationships (STAR
  Program, We Care Awards, PRIDE Program).

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Current Program Progress

• Provided training to bus drivers on dealing with
  bullying and other inappropriate behaviors.
• Identified high risk bus routes.

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Current Program Progress

• A Bullying Prevention Committee from each school
  building has been established.
• All members of the Bullying Prevention Committee
  have been trained in the Olweus Bullying
  Prevention Program.

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Planning Ahead

• Teachers and staff will be trained on January 16,
  2006.
• Develop and implement a bullying/harassment
  reporting system in order to track incidents.
• Post school anti-bullying rules.
• Implement classroom meetings.

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Planning Ahead

• Organize Kick-Off events (i.e., poster
  contests, T-shirt, logo creation contest, etc.).
• Create and distribute Bullying Awareness and
  Prevention pamphlets.
• Increase parent awareness support.
• Increase community awareness support.