When adults respond quickly and consistently to bullying behavior they send the message that it is not acceptable. Research shows this can stop bullying behavior over time.

Parents, school staff, and other adults in the community can help kids prevent bullying by talking about it, building a safe school environment, and creating a community-wide bullying prevention strategy.

• Elementary Bullying Prevention Lessons (provided by Boston v. Bullies)
• Middle/High Bullying Prevention Lessons (Supplement to TLP)
• Spookley the Square Pumpkin Anti-Bullying Activities
• Building Bullying Designees
• Bullying Incident Reporting Form

The goal of the day is to bring together youth, parents, educators, businesses, and community members across the nation to emphasize the message that bullying is not acceptable and that all students deserve to be safe in school, online, and in the community. We wear orange because it is a color commonly identified with that month and season. It is also a color associated with safety and visibility. Orange is described as warm and inviting, and its vibrancy makes a strong statement.

• Unity Tree - One idea is for each person to contribute their own unique experiences and creative ideas by writing positive messages on the leaves attached to the tree. As the number of leaves increases, it creates a visual reminder that when we are united we can make a bigger impact. You can also create a tree with different colored leaves, allowing the Unity Tree to grow and grow and grow!
• Door Decorations - Be creative and allow your students to share their ideas on how to decorate doors to share messages of kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. Consider holding a school-wide door-decorating contest for most creative door, in which the winning classroom receives orange prizes to use on Unity Day or an orange treat item, like orange cupcakes. Your school could also hold a Unity Day parade so that all students can see the other classroom doors.
• Unity Mural - Create a mural for the classroom or school hallway that is symbolic of unity. Use the word UNITY and color in the mural, or create an image that is significant to your school, like a mascot.
• Rock Painting - Write words of unity on rocks and place them around the school courtyard, entrance, or playground. These colorful rocks will inspire unity throughout the school! This activity can be a great way to help students engage with new peers—think about pairing older students with younger students to paint rocks together.

Did you know....

• More than one out of every five students will be bullied this year, chances are this is happening to someone you know and care about.
• Bullying directly affects a student’s ability to learn. Students who are bullied often do not want to go to school. They may find it difficult to concentrate, show a decline in grades, and lose self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-worth.
• Students who are bullied report more physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomachaches, and mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety, than other students.
• Bullying affects witnesses as well as targets. Those who witness bullying often report feeling unsafe, helpless, and afraid that they will be the next target.
• Students can be especially effective in bullying intervention. It’s important for adults to encourage youth to be supportive of anyone experiencing bullying and to educate youth on how to advocate for themselves and for others.

Expected start Oct 24th.

• Doran
• Viveiros
• Silvia
• Additional schools TBD

One day per week, four week session with a culminating parent night at Ultimate Defense Fall River for students to receive white belts.

Mindful Martial Arts is a social-emotional program geared toward students in grades K-3 that combines martial arts practice and training with the development of mindfulness skills. The goal of the program is to support students in physical and emotional wellness by teaching skills such as focus, perseverance, respect, and self-control by fostering awareness of the mind-body connection.

Lessons will be run by Sensei Ernie Thivierge and masters-level clinicians and clinical interns during the school day. Teachers will be provided follow-up open and go social emotional lesson plans to use during the week to reinforce learned skills. Families will also be provided a tip sheet outlining how to support their children’s social emotional development at home.

Visiting Letourneau, Watson, and Morton starting November 8th

Want Richard to visit your school? Reach out to cicosta@fallriverschools.org to see if there are any available time slots.

• Doran
• Letourneau
• Stone
• Morton
• Henry Lord
• Fonseca
• Greene
• Tansey

Bullying & Cyberbullying Basics

This assembly is designed to help students define and understand bullying, cyberbullying, and relational aggression. Students will gain a clearer understanding of the difference between conflict, drama, and bullying. Online safety is discussed and students are educated about the dangers of disclosing too much online, such as sending or posting inappropriate photos. Students will gain awareness about how serious and hurtful words and actions online can be. The presentation also offers students practical advice for avoiding problems online. Concrete tools and tips for dealing with bullies in school and online are presented. Advice for bystanders is also provided.

Friends & Conflict

This assembly focuses on the ways that young people use cyberspace to facilitate relational aggression and other cyber problems. Discusses conflicts stemming from current or former friendships. The focus of this program is to help students cope more effectively in future bullying or cyberbullying situations as well as general conflict. This interactive presentation discusses how cyber behaviors can change friendships. We discuss and offer healthy ways to handle conflict and disagreements between friends. The facilitator involves the audience in discussing current issues regarding bullying and cyberbullying. Special attention is given in regards to how to handle friendship fights or friendship breakups, in particular not reacting when you are angry or upset. This program covers current issues that students are dealing with as well as providing the audience with more effective ways to cope and deal with these types of situations.

Want MARC to visit your school? Reach out to vamaral@fallriverschools.org to schedule.

Share your school's October SEL activities, photos, and successes to vamaral@fallriverschools.org

Troy City Yoga offers discounts to Fall River Public School staff and teachers as well as MA/RI full time students!* Send them an email (hello@troycityyoga.com) to get linked to the special pricing before booking.