October is “Say Boo to Bullies” month in St. Rose Grammar School, Belmar.
Parents and teachers are aware that bullying occurs every day throughout the country and recent statistics reveal that being bullied and being the bully increase a child’s risk for negative physical and psychological health. Regardless of reasons why children are bullied or bully, they need to be able to identify the difference between teasing and bullying. Teasing is done in a playful, friendly and mutual way while bullying is hurtful and unkind one-sided banter.
School-based bullying prevention programs have been shown to decrease bullying within the school setting by 25 percent. In St. Rose, the teachers and staff want that percentage to increase through the messages we deliver to their students.
St. Rose has on display a 10-foot “No Bully Banner” in the school yard to reinforce our commitment to no bullying. The students have also pledged to “make a commitment to take a stand against bullying.”
In their pledge, they promise to treat others with respect and kindness; have the compassion to not be a bully and the courage to not be a bystander, and accept the responsibility to help others being bullied and to report bullying.”