Bully Prevention

The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program Overview

• Even with a school's best efforts, bullying can affect the safety and well-being of the entire student population. In order to stop bullying, it needs to be addressed at every level of a student's experience. That's why the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is a school-wide program aimed at preventing or reducing bullying throughout the North Allegheny School District.

Olweus Bullying Prevention Program Goals

• The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is designed to improve peer relations and make schools safer, more positive places for students to learn and develop. Goals of the program include:
  • Reducing existing bullying problems among students
  • Preventing new bullying problems
  • Achieving better peer relations at school
• Schools across the country and around the world have experienced positive results from the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.

Olweus Bullying Prevention Program Scope

• Backed by thirty-five years of research and successful, worldwide implementation, the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is a long-term, system-wide program for change involving program components at four levels:

School Level Components:

• Establish a Bully Prevention Coordinating Committee
• Conduct committee and staff trainings
• Administer the Olweus Bullying Questionnaire schoolwide
• Hold staff discussion group meetings
• Introduce the school rules against bullying
• Review and refine the school's supervisorty system
• Hold a school kick off event to launch the program
• Involve parents

Individual Level Components:

• Supervise students' activities
• Ensure that all staff intervene on the spot when bullying occurs
• Hold meetings with students involved in bullying
• Hold meetings with parents of involved students
• Develop individual intervention plans for involved students

Classroom Level Components:

• Post and enforce school-wide rules against bullying
• Hold regular class meetings
• Hold meetings with students' parents

Community Level Components:

• Involve community members on the Bully Prevention Coordinating Committee
• Develop partnerships with community members to support our school's program
• Help to spread anti-bullying messages and principles of best practice in the community