Nottingham has a comprehensive, school-wide bullying prevention and intervention program. It is an evidence- based program for students in grades K-5 based on the Second Step materials developed by the Committee for Children. All staff and parents are encouraged to listen carefully to children who report bullying and ask a few basic questions to determine if the situation meets the program’s definition of bullying. All intentional disrespectful and bullying behavior is taken seriously. We ask anyone (students or parents) who is aware of a bullying situation to report it to the classroom teacher, a counselor, or an administrator.All staff receive training on bullying prevention. The school celebrates Bullying Prevention Month in October. Nottingham participates in Unity Day https://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/unity-day.asp
Prevention
It is critical that all students, staff, and parents/guardians use the same definition of what is bullying. Nottingham uses the Second Step definition from Committee for Children. Bullying is behavior that is: 1) mean; 2) on purpose; 3) unfair or one-sided; and 4) happens over and over (repeated). Bullying can be verbal, emotional, physical against the person, physical against property or involve exclusion. Bullying can happen in person or on-line. Students are taught the three Rs of bullying;
- Recognize– Know what is bullying (and what is not)
- Refuse– If you feel safe, stick up for yourself or peer
- Report– Bullying is about power and needs adult help to stop it from occurring. Reporting is not the same as tattling.
To learn more about Second Step Bullying Unit see https://www.secondstep.org/bullying-preventionAnother resource utilized for Digital Citizenship and Cyber Bullying is Common Sense Media. Students in grades 3-5 are taught:
- Don’t respond or retaliate.
- Block the person who is bullying.
- Save and print bullying messages.
- Talk to a friend.
- Tell a trusted adult
Students and parents who believe that a child has been bullied can report it to any staff member at school with whom they feel most comfortable. Use the following link to report bullying & harassment: Report Bullying/Harassment, or send an email to report@apsva.us.