BULLYING PREVENTION PROGRAM BEGINS AT URBANA MIDDLE SCHOOL

 
All schools deal with the issue of bullying. Urbana Middle School is taking proactive
steps to stop and prevent bullying by adopting the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.
This research-based schoolwide “systemschange” program has been used successfully in
schools all over the country and around the world with positive results.

This program is not a curriculum that students participate in for only a few weeks.
Rather, it is a coordinated effort by all the adults in the school to supervise and intervene
when any bullying happens. As part of the program, students participate in monthly class
meetings to learn about the effects of bullying, what they can do about it, and how then
can work with adults at school to put a stop to it even as bystanders. Parents can support
the messages students are getting in school.

Frank Vetter, principal at Urbana Middle School, said, “This type of program is about
changing the whole school climate to make it a safer, more positive place to learn. One
change that many schools have noticed after using this program for a year or two is that
students actually like school better. It makes sense – it’s hard to learn if you’re afraid or
if other students are mean to you.”

Implementing the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is a longterm
commitment to making Urbana Middle School a safer, more positive place to be.