Holy Trinity School Bully-Proofing Program

 

Expectations for a Caring Community

  • We will use kind words and actions.
  • We will not bully others.
  • We will help others who are being bullied by speaking out and getting help.
  • We will use extra effort to include all students in activities at our school.

Remember the Golden Rule-- "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

 
Philosophy: The goal of the Holy Trinity Bully-Proofing Program is to serve as an early preventative measure against bullying behaviors. It is designed to stop bullying behaviors starting at the elementary level to ensure a safer school environment- one that does not tolerate acts of physical or emotional aggression. The program has four components: staff training, classroom instruction, school-wide policies and a parent component. 
     The classroom curriculum is designed to teach children to recognize bullying behaviors. They also learn why children bully each other and the emotional consequences for victims of bullying. The concept of the “Caring Community” is stressed. Members of the caring community are not the bullies or the victims, but the other 80% of the students who are by-standers. These students can make a tremendous difference in maintaining a safe school environment. Students learn various strategies to help themselves and others. They learn to use the power of the Caring Community to diffuse the power of students who are choosing bullying behaviors. 
     Our bully-proofing program is not designed to be a punitive program. We do, however, believe in giving consistent consequences for bullying behaviors. The focus is not on punishment, but on a consequence that is appropriate, depending on the type and severity of the bullying. 
     We do not believe in labeling any student as a “bully”. Instead, we focus on bullying behaviors, which many people, even adults, sometimes display. If a student is given a consequence for a bullying behavior, we ask that parents calmly discuss their behavior with them and talk about other more appropriate choices they could make. We encourage adults to model and reinforce with their children how they can be a positive leader and a member of the Caring Community.

     The bully-Proofing program at Holy Trinity Catholic School is supported by a developmentally appropriate, consistent discipline policy and a faith based character education program. Our Bully-Proofing Program needs the support of parents to help make it successful.

 

How to report incidents of bullying:

    If your child is dealing with bullying issues and has not been able to resolve them on their own, we want to help.  In order to best resolve problems with bullying, we need information as soon after the incident as possible.  Students are encouraged to ask for help from their teacher, the playground associate, lunchroom staff, the guidance counselor or an administrator.

   Often students are reluctant to go to a teacher or staff member for help because they may appear to be weak or a tattle-tale.  Many students fear that if they tell, the bullying will get worse.  No one should have to suffer in silence.  We discuss with students several, "lower risk" ways to ask for help.

  • Stop and see the teacher before or after school.
  • Write the teacher a note and hand it in with a paper or put it on the teacher's desk.
  • Send the teacher an e-mail.
  • Leave the teacher a voice-mail at their school extension.
  • Talk to your parents.  We encourage parents to contact the school to report incidents of bullying behavior.

We ask that you go to your child's teacher first.  If interventions are tried and the bullying persist, the teacher and/or parent may ask for additional help from the guidance counselor or an administrator.  We are committed to keeping the source of information confidential.

Tips for Parents of Victims to Give Their Children:

  • Don't react emotionally.  Assist your child in knowing who the safe people are within the school to go to when bullied.  Help them practice not showing strong emotions in front of the bully.  This only excites the bully more.  Instead, tell them to quickly go to someone identified as safe.
  • Be assertive.  This works best if the bully is alone and not with a group of other children who will give the bully strength.  If assertiveness is appropriate, tell your child to simply state that he or she does not like the bullying behavior, that it is not allowed, and that he or she intends to tell someone if it does not stop.
  • Stay with others.  Reinforce for your child that bullies are most likely to act aggressively with a child who is alone.
  • Do something unexpected.  This is especially effective if the child can turn bullying situation into something humorous.  Encourage your child's sense of humor and creative problem-solving skills.
  • Own the put-down.  Remind your child that a bully often does not know what to do or say next if the victim simply agrees with him or her.

(Check the Student Resources link for more details on strategies that students can use to help themselves and others.)

Click here for the Bullying Behaviors Chart.