October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Our students, staff and families are joining Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) schools to continue to raise awareness and support kind and respectful school cultures. Below are five facts about bullying prevention on our campuses.
- Bullying is preventable. Everyone has a role to play in preventing bullying. Effective bullying prevention approaches the problem from many angles and involves staff, students and families in creating a culture of respect. We help educate students about this important topic, including how to seek help, encourage them to engage in kindness, create opportunities for social connectedness and stand up for others. To learn what you can do at home, visit stopbullying.gov for more information.
- We promote positive behaviors and welcoming school communities. Under the structure of the Multi-Tiered System of Support, IUSD schools implement Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, also known as PBIS, which establishes student expectations for the learning and teaching environment, social culture and campus norms. PBIS helps us support students by educating, preventing and/or addressing behaviors such as bullying and encourages a culture of respect and kindness.
- Our schools offer a variety of social-emotional supports to prevent and address bullying. Our school staff, including teachers, mental health team members, counselors, nurses, administrators and other staff are here to listen, help and support our students.
- IUSD schools promote positive digital citizenship and the appropriate use of social media. We use the Common Sense Media curriculum that provides information and resources for staff, students and families. To learn more about K-12 digital citizenship in IUSD, please visit our K-12 Digital Citizenship in IUSD information resource. Included in this resource is a digital citizenship presentation for parents.
- We encourage students to say something. We want all students to know they are not alone and their voice matters, so please speak up, we care. Our school staff strives to create positive relationships with students so they have a trusted adult they can share their concerns. Additionally, IUSD’s Say Something Anonymous Reporting System enables students to seek support anonymously for themselves or friends.
For comprehensive information about bullying, cyber-bullying and IUSD actions, visit the Bullying Prevention webpage. For mental health and other supports, visit the Mental Health and Wellness and Counseling web pages.