HCS has inititated an Olweus Anti-bullying Super Friends Program. This program is affecting the entire culture by creating a safe/respectful environment.
Our journey
2011, HCS title funds trained a teacher in the Olweus Program.
2012, a committee which was formed of school administration, faculty, teaching assistant, HO staff, parents and community leaders, participated in a two-day training off-site on implementation. Students in Grades 3-8, participated in an Olweus online bullying survey. Data was used by the committee to analyze procedures, review “hot-spots”, plan for faculty/staff training and to organize our school-wide kick-off event. A student contest began to design the logo and name the program.
Summer 2012, all school staff, faculty, parish staff, SPPS nurse and counselor attended an 8-hour training on the components of the program.
Sept. 2012, school-wide kick-off featured all students signing the pledge to follow the anti-bullying rules:
- We will not bullying others.
- We will try to help students who are bullied.
- We will try to include students who are left out.
- If we know that someone is being bullied, we will tell an adult at school and an adult at home.
Students received Super Friend shirts, participated in activities and had a community meal.
SY 2012-13:
- Three training sessions for parents/guardians
- Two faculty meetings/month to review procedures
- Monthly Super Friends Committee meetings
- Weekly Tuesday Super Friends Class Meetings 12-12:30 p.m. (Every single K-8 student and all faculty/staff attend.)
- All adults carry Super Friend stickers to award positive behavior.
- Electronically file all incident of bullying
- Use of a building-wide rubric to address bullying behavior
- Üse of “Super Friends” sighting slips to report positive behavior during all school announcements.
- Students re-take the bullying survey
Subsequent school years have continued to enhance and strengthen our program, such as the “SuperStaff” recognition and special activity around Catholic Schools Week. Highland Catholic is committed to the long-term success of the SuperFriends program.
This program could be a model for all schools.