Swanton School Guidance Counseling

Franklin Northwest Student Leaders Develop Bullying Prevention Programs

What can a group of third through sixth graders do to prevent bullying in their schools?  A lot, according to a group of student leaders gathered at the Elks Club in St. Albans on Friday, October 2nd.  Students from Swanton, Highgate, Sheldon, and Berkshire Elementary Schools traveled to St. Albans with their guidance counselors to learn more about bullying and work together to make plans to stop bullying in their schools.

Mike Dreiblatt, co-author of How to Stop Bullying and Social Aggression, spent the day with the students.  It was a lively morning, full of engaging activities and role- playing that taught the students about the roles of bully and bystander, the types of bullying, and how to respond effectively to bullying.  After a delicious lunch catered by Cosmic Bakery, student teams brainstormed activities for their school’s annual bullying prevention program.  Students then worked with their counselors to select their top three ideas and shared those with the other teams.  After hearing from one another, the teams had a chance to make revisions before developing their ideas into concrete action steps to present to their principal.

Each school team chose a name.  The Highgate team will be known as “Bully Busters,” while Sheldon’s group is called the “Bully Free Bears.”  In Berkshire, the small group will go by ABC – the Anti-Bullying Committee.  Finally, team Swanton will be the “Speak Up Swans.”  Plans range from weekly awards for courageous bystanders who speak out against bullying to school dances to creating videos and songs. 

“It was a great day,” said Swanton school counselor Debbie Light.  “The kids were really engaged.  We got a lot accomplished!  It was great to hear from kids who don’t always get a chance to have their ideas heard.  We had some really creative ideas.”  Student Max Boulerice of Swanton, one of the student leaders who initiated the conference with his principal, Julie Benay, wanted to know when the group would meet again, as he was eager to see the Speak Out Swans ideas in action.

All agreed the first “Step Up! Speak Out! Franklin County Bullying Prevention Day” was a great success.  Plans are already underway for next year’s conference.