Have you or someone you know been bullied before? According to the Monique Burr Foundation, across the US 13 million K-12 students will be bullied this year.
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Bullying Prevention Month was created in 2006, to show awareness for those who have suffered through bullying.
Bullying is the act of seeking to harm, intimidate, or coerce someone perceived as vulnerable. Bullying can be physical, mental or emotional. There are many different types of bullying which are all equally important. Bullying affects students negatively, causing poor mental health, anxiety, depression, etc. Raising awareness for Bullying Prevention Month in schools can help stop bullying.
During Bullying Prevention Month students can feel more comfortable reporting bullying. LHS Dean of students, Ms. Slack said bullying can be reported by, “Submitting an online form on the district website, talking to a trusted adult (can be any staff member or teacher) or talk to me. The report will either go to me or to your counselor.”
Bullying prevention shouldn’t only matter for one month. “Bullying prevention should be happening year round.” Said LHS paraeducator, Mr. hall. Bullying prevention is being discussed in LHS with posters around the hallways, announcements on the intercom and instagram posts.
LHS is working to make bullying prevention year round by doing events and activities like Unity Day. Unity day happens annually on October 16th. This year LHS celebrated Unity Day by wearing orange, passing out orange bows to students, making posts, talking about Unity Day on the announcements and the administration team wore matching orange shirts.
LHS plans to continue awareness for bullying by participating in Kindness Week. Kindness Week is the celebration of kindness on the week of World Kindness Day, in November. Clubs and sports teams will be participating by making posters, showing awareness, etc. You can hear more about Kindness Week on the LHS daily announcements.
10th grade LHS student, Angel Cruz said Bullying Prevention Month means, “helping prevent bullying when seen or experienced.” He also said, “Bullying prevention month is good” and that he’s “seen how it affects people.” 11th grade student Gursimran Singh said, “Bullying prevention is a good thing.”
LHS administration and staff plan to keep on supporting bullying prevention throughout the rest of the school year, and annually. Students can help support bullying prevention by reporting when seen, and stepping up to help.
