SJSD encourages parents to have open conversations with kids about bullying
By Jenna Wilson
With the start of school looming, the St. Joseph School District is looking to keep students safe by preventing bullying in the classroom.
Dr. Samantha Davis, SJSD coordinator of counseling, said starting a new school year can be difficult for students who have concerns about encountering bullying from their peers, but school leaders are taking steps to reduce it.
“Meeting your teachers and new friends are all things that can be overwhelming at times,” Davis said. “It’s really important for students to have a trusted adult in their life they can talk to. As counselors, we will be educating students on what bullying may look like and the different ways it can be reported.”
According to district officials, there haven’t been many reports of bullying on campus.
Educators want to ensure that the classroom is both a tease-free zone and bullying-free zone, but Davis said there is a difference between continuous bullying and individual incidents.
“We want to make sure our community members and students understand the different paths of the two,” said Davis. “Bullying is an ongoing situation that has repeated over time and there’s usually an intent to harm or hurt a person in some way, so we will be addressing that throughout the year and looking for ways to create mediation.”
Parents are encouraged to talk to kids about bullying and teach them to stand up for themselves and others. It’s also important to talk to them about not partaking in bullying of others.
“Everyone is dealing with something and has a backstory that we just don’t know,” Davis said. “We want kids to feel safe in their environment that way they can learn. So again, we will be continuously educating our students on how to handle conflict without it turning into more serious type situations.”
A school counselor will be available at each school building, and parents and students are encouraged to speak to a counselor about any concerns of bullying.
Parents and students can also anonymously report cases of bullying online by visiting the district website.
