OLWEUS - Bullying Prevention

OLWEUS is a research-based framework that we use to prevent bully-like behavior in our school.  It is designed for all students, and it is both preventive AND responsive in nature. OLWEUS requires on-going and systematic efforts by all adults and students in our building to establish a strong culture and climate of respect and responsibility in our school.  We empower students to stop the mean and hurtful behavior by teaching them strategies they can use to Stand Up and Step Up instead of standing by without taking action.

OLWEUS is NOT a curriculum, a conflict resolution or peer mediation approach, an anger management program, or a suicide prevention program.

OLWEUS IS a framework that invites all staff and all students to actively invest in making our school climate a place that is safe for all to learn.

OLWEUS Bullying Definition

“Bullying is when someone repeatedly and on purpose says or does mean or hurtful things to another person who has a hard time defending himself or herself.”

The portion in bold is what we embed into daily instruction with students.  When a mean or hurtful incident is observed or reported, a staff member will talk with both the alleged offender and the victim. The offender will serve a lunchtime detention the following day if the incident was witnessed by a staff member or if the offender admits to acting in a mean and hurtful manner.  Phone calls will be made to both students’ homes by that same staff member, and they will also follow up with both the offender and the victim a few days later to ensure that the mean and hurtful behavior has not continued. Each incident is also tracked to allow our guidance counselor to invite students to participate in friendship groups based on patterns of students involved in offender or victim roles.  

Our School Rules about Bullying

• We will not bully others.
• We will try to help students who are bullied.
• We will try to include students who are left out.
• If we know that someone is being bullied, we will tell an adult at school and an adult at home.

How can you get involved?

• Ask your child to share what they’re learning about bullying or mean and hurtful behavior with you.
• Encourage your child to be a TRUE FRIEND...there will be many activities and discussions focused around friendship throughout the school year.  
• Remind your child that if they (or a friend) are being treated in a mean and hurtful manner, they need to tell an adult at school and an adult at home RIGHT AWAY.  If your child is reporting incidents to you, but not to someone at school, we need to know about it!

PBIS Framework

(Positive Behavior Intervention Supports)

PBIS is a framework that focuses on the positive aspects of behavior by supporting students in making choices that are consistent with school-wide expectations. Staff members encourage students to continue making positive choices in their everyday lives.

We have 3 School-wide Expectations:

• Be Responsible

• Be Respectful

• Be a Leader

Country Meadow Positive Reward Program

PB (Personal Best Rewards):

Part of PBIS is celebrating positive behavior choices throughout the school year.  Individual students, groups of students, or classrooms can earn PBs for the entire class. Once our school PB board is filled up with PBs, we draw classes to earn extra recesses.

Chuck-a-duck

Based on predetermined criteria, students have the opportunity to earn ducks for our “chuck-a-duck” celebrations. For each duck earned, students try to make it into the duck “pond” by throwing them from behind a line. Each one duck landing in the “pond” is a little positive reward.

Clean Calendar Club

Students have the opportunity to earn a special celebration with principal Mrs. Molargik every month. Students earn participation in the celebration by having a “clean calendar” for the entire month. A “clean calendar” consists of getting zero Bs (behavior marks), Ts (talking marks), and Hs (missing homework). Celebrations can range from an extra recess to a special activity.