October is. . .

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National Bullying

Prevention Month

Video Website Reference

Elementary

• Define kindness, acceptance, inclusion, and unity using words, art, or music.
• Encourage youth to write down acts of kindness, acceptance, and inclusion that they see and where they see them happen. Note: This can be done throughout the month.
• Here is a template to use

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Secondary

• Consider sharing this slide deck defining bullying, to be reviewed in class
• Define kindness, acceptance, inclusion, and unity using words, art, or music.
• Encourage youth to write down acts of kindness, acceptance, and inclusion that they see and where they see them happen. Note: This can be done throughout the month.
• Here is a template to use
• Discuss differences between mean vs bullying

Week One

Elementary

• Get input from students on how to celebrate Unity Day (October 19). Use the template below, or your own, for ways to wear and share orange through projects and activities on Unity Day. Then, describe your ideas in writing or pictures.
• Template
• Before the end of the week, please share with staff and students on what was decided for the unity day on October 18th
• Ideas for activities
• Poster
• Unity Tree
• Connecting Links
• A Wrinkled Heart

Secondary

• Get input from students on how to celebrate Unity Day (October 19). Consider using Google form to collect suggestions.
• Before the end of the week, please share with staff and students on what was decided for the Unity Day on October 18th
• Ideas for activities
• Unity Tree
• Every Step You Take
• Sticky Note Activity
• Unity Banner

Week Two

Elementary

• Engage in your planned activities from week two. Share pictures via your website, social media, district social media, etc.
• Consider using this template for a classroom activity

Secondary

• Engage in your planned activities from week two. Share pictures via your website, social media, district social media, etc.

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Week Three - October 19th

Elementary

• Encourage students to complete the personal reflection about actions taken during the month and determine steps they can take throughout the year.
• Encourage students to take the Create a World Without Bullying Pledge.
• Template

Secondary

• Encourage students to determine steps they can take throughout the year. Consider using a Google form or journaling

Week Four

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Just for Elementary. . .

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Elementary Counselors

• Presentation in each classroom on what is bullying and how to respond
• Mean vs Bullying
• Posters
• Bullying is
• Is it Bullying?
• Bullying

Communication Ideas. . .

Week 1

Key Messages

National Bullying Prevention Month is a time for everyone to:

• UNITE: It is important to present the unified message that no one deserves to be bullied and all students deserve to feel safe and supported and to inspire everyone to act with kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.
• RAISE AWARENESS: Talking about bullying prevention helps build understanding.
• LEARN: It’s empowering to know what to do when you see or experience bullying.
• TAKE ACTION: Actions have impact. Everyone’s actions matter; we all have a role to play in bullying prevention.

The Importance of National Bullying Prevention Month. . . Week 2 and 4

National Bullying Prevention Month (NBPM) is an important time to elevate the conversation about addressing and preventing bullying of K-12 children and youth.

Bullying is the aggressive use of power, targeting another person or group of people with repeated, unwanted words or action, hurting them emotionally or physically. Bullying impacts the education, health, and safety of K-12 youth.

Bullying can happen anywhere. It not just a school issue; bullying can happen wherever youth come together: youth groups, athletic and academic competitions, neighborhoods, and online.

Ignoring bullying will not make it go away. Silence and inaction are not acceptable responses to bullying. Everyone needs to be empowered with options for responding to bullying situations.

A unified message helps amplify the conversation. It is important to reinforce the message that all students deserve to feel safe and supported, and to promote acting with kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.

Everyone’s actions matter: we all have a role to play in bullying prevention. It’s vital for adults to know how to respond, to be there for those involved in bullying situations, to hold youth accountable for bullying behavior, and to support and educate youth about how to advocate for themselves and for others.

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Communication Ideas Continued. . . Week 3

Why unity? For years, bullying was justified with expressions such as, “Bullying is a natural part of childhood,” “Bullying makes kids tougher,” or “Bullying is a rite of passage.” The goal of Unity Day is to bring together youth, parents, educators, and community members to emphasize the message that bullying is not acceptable, and that all students deserve to be safe in school, online, and in the community.

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