Each week, campus leadership will share some hot-topics and helpful parenting tips to help build and bridge connections and conversations between school and home.
We want all of our Bulldogs to have the best school and learning experience possible, and we all know that it takes a VILLAGE to foster the highest levels of social, emotional, and academic wellness for our Bulldogs!
Thank you for taking the time to read the tips and hot-topics so that we can all partner together in building relationships and Crafting the Future together!
This week's message is about October is National Bullying Awareness Month, a timely reminder for organizations to take action at the local level to foster safe and supportive environments. As we navigate the school year together, it’s important to take a moment to discuss bullying—what it is, what it isn’t, and how we can work together to foster a supportive environment for our children.
By promoting kindness, inclusivity, and respect, we can contribute to creating schools and a society where everyone feels valued and respected. Together, we have the power to make bullying a thing of the past and build a better, more compassionate world.
Dear RJ Parents,
As we navigate the school year together, it’s important to take a moment to discuss bullying—what it is, what it isn’t, and how we can work together to foster a supportive environment for our children.
Understanding Bullying:
What It Isn’t: Not all conflict or disagreements between children constitute bullying. Friendly teasing, normal arguments, or isolated incidents of negative behavior can be part of childhood interactions but do not always fit the definition of bullying. It’s important to recognize the difference to address concerns appropriately.
Definition: Bullying is unwanted, aggressive, targeted, and / or a pattern of acts or behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. It can be physical, verbal, or social, and it often happens repeatedly over time. This behavior can harm the victim, create a hostile environment, and negatively affect everyone involved. Texas School Safety center also mentions that it is the sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive.
Fostering Open Conversations:
To help your child understand and accept others, consider these conversation starters:
Discuss Feelings: Ask your child about their feelings when they see someone being left out or teased. Encourage empathy by exploring how they would feel in those situations.
Role-Playing: Use role-playing to help your child practice standing up against bullying. Discuss ways to respond to bullies and how to support peers and be a positive bystander.
Talk About Responsibility: Emphasize the importance of personal responsibility. Discuss how every action has consequences and how they can choose to be kind and inclusive.
Encourage Inclusivity: Share stories or examples of how accepting differences enriches our lives. Highlight the beauty in diversity and the importance of friendship across different backgrounds.
Be a Model: Children learn from their parents. Share your own experiences with kindness and conflict resolution, and demonstrate respectful communication in your own interactions.
Building a Supportive Community:
Encouraging a culture of respect and acceptance at home sets the foundation for your child to practice these values at school. Let’s work together to ensure that our children feel safe and empowered to speak out against bullying and embrace their peers with kindness.
Thank you for your continued support in creating a positive environment for our children.
