• October is Bullying Prevention Month: Be an Upstander

     

    October marks Bullying Prevention Month —a critical time to reinforce our enduring anti-bullying philosophy at St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS). Our commitment to a safe, supportive, and kind learning environment is constant, and it requires all staff to understand, prevent, and respond to bullying effectively.

    Understanding and Avoiding Bullying

    The first step in upholding our anti-bullying philosophy is a clear understanding of what bullying is and how to avoid it in our school communities. Bullying is defined as unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. It can take many forms:

    • Verbal: Name-calling, teasing, threatening, or taunting.
    • Social/Relational: Spreading rumors, purposeful exclusion, or public embarrassment.
    • Physical: Hitting, kicking, tripping, pushing, or damaging belongings.
    • Cyberbullying: Using digital technology to harass, threaten, or humiliate others.

    We avoid bullying by being vigilant, intervening promptly, and modeling respect, empathy, and positive conflict resolution every single day.

    Kindness: Make It a Constant at SLPS

    More than just avoiding negative behavior, our philosophy champions positive action. Being kind is a constant at SLPS, forming the bedrock of a positive school culture and climate. When we prioritize kindness:

    • We create an environment where students feel safe, valued, and connected.
    • We teach students the power of empathy and positive peer relationships.
    • We inherently diminish the conditions under which bullying can take root.

    This commitment to kindness is reflected not only in our daily interactions but also in the invaluable work done by our School Community Officers who regularly facilitate bullying prevention presentations across our schools. Also, encourage supporting the bullying prevention message by acknowledging Unity Day on October 15, where students and others can wear orange to show that they’re an Upstander, ready and willing to stand up against bullying and in support of those who have been bullied.

    Recommended Resources and Training

    To support your work in reinforcing this essential philosophy, the SLPS Culture and Climate team highly recommends the following resources. These materials provide useful information and  lessons to proactively address bullying and foster a positive school culture.