This month's question: what's going on in your school or classroom/s to help bully-proof your school? Responses from Sherman, Sennett, Cherokee, Gompers and Stephens.

Sherman MS
By Kit Laibly, Volunteer and After-School Programs Coordinator

A new student organization was formed this fall at Sherman and it's called the Equity Leadership Council or "ELC." This highly motivated group of 7th graders planned and organized our school-wide food drive, participated in focus groups for the MMSD, and has been meeting with Sherman's adult leadership team on school-wide improvement efforts.

They are currently in the process of planning and practicing skits regarding issues that affect middle school students here at Sherman to present to other students in the building. One of their main topics is bullying and harassment.

A portion of the group's mission statement:
Our purpose is to provide student leadership, promote diversity, and to model the importance of putting forth strong academic effort. We will achieve this purpose through regular meetings, peer mentoring, and peer education with the goal of improving the quality of academic achievement and relationships among our Sherman Community.

Sennett MS
By Colleen Lodholz, Principal

At Sennett Middle School we have an advisory time called "Homebase," used to build a sense of community within our building, and therefore help prevent bullying/harassment.

This 40 minute class meets twice each week throughout the school year, and uses a combination of Tribes, Asset Building, Bully-Proofing, and Diversity Education. Each quarter is devoted to a different theme:

• Quarter 1- Creating a Sense of Belonging;
• Quarter 2- Developing Self;
• Quarter 3- A Caring Community - Anti-Bullying/Harassment; and
• Quarter 4- Celebrating Diversity.

In addition to our Homebase program, our 6th and 7th grade health classes, our Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), our recently started Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), and our active peer mediation program help reinforce these anti-harassment messages throughout our building.

Cherokee MS

We asked a group of sixth graders with a particularly active TRIBES program to write a summary of their efforts to reduce/eliminate harassment.

The students include Maria Lee, Emma Geer, Gary Smith, and Quentin Johnson. The students are taught by Erica Gottschalk and Shannon Holum.

The students' report:

"In Mrs. Holum and Mrs. Gottschalk's homebase, the students and teachers use a program called TRIBES. All students are divided into groups of four or five people.

"Using TRIBES, the students get to know people that are outside their usual social circles better. We also learn to challenge ourselves better. In TRIBES, we get a chance to be ourselves and no one else.

"People learn how to encourage each other. Also, we learn to help people to do their best in TRIBES and to boost each others' confidence.

"When we are in TRIBES, we have to trust our TRIBES members. For the past few weeks the TRIBES did tasks to earn points for their team. We did special challenges against all of the TRIBES, including Fear Factor, memory games, and many others. Also, we learn how to stand up for our friends and to defend others against bullies.

"Our classes have had an excellent experience with TRIBES, and we have had loads of fun!"

Gompers ES
Amy Noble, Social Worker

All students at Gompers Elementary School are learning how to solve social problems and prevent violence. Their teachers use the Second Step program, the SAVE curriculum, TRIBES and the COPS program to have conversations about what to do if something happens between kids that causes hurt feelings.

There is a common language at Gompers which asks "Is it safe, kind, honest? Does it show respect for others and property?"

All staff members work together to help students talk things out right away. Bullying is not tolerated.

All students are taught to use their "safety network" of helping adults to report any bullying and to keep telling until the problem stops and they feel safe again.

Stephens ES
By Nancy Yoder, Principal

Here's the scoop on one aspect of anti-bullying at Stephens:

Ms. Bach, 4/5 teacher, and Kim Miller, School Psychologist, teamed up to teach service learning with a focus on anti-bullying. Steps to Respect curriculum was taught and students used their understanding of this anti-bullying program to teach younger students.

Sessions focused on developing scripts, role plays and posters that would be appropriate for younger students. Ms. Bach's students taught second and third graders the concepts of joining groups, identifying a bully, being assertive, and being responsible as bystanders.

Fourth and fifth graders gained a deeper understanding by teaching what they had learned. As a result, not only did Ms. Bach's students apply what they had learned, second and third graders were introduced to anti-bullying curriculum by upper class students, making quite an impression.