Norwin High School rolled out its new Anti-Bullying campaign this year with faculty and students. On Friday Jan. 19, Norwin High was scheduled to roll out the program with Olweus Bullying Prevention Kick-Off Assembly; however, it was cancelled due to a snow day. One initiative of the program included a number of KWIN videos, posters, and post-it notes about the campaign around the high school to convince students to practice anti-bullying procedures.
The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) is a new anti-bullying program at the high school aimed at reducing bullying problems among students, preventing new bullying problems, and achieving better relationships between students. The administrators at the high school chose to include this program into Norwin High School because it is a school-wide program that involves the entire community, from staff members to individual students.
The new anti-bullying program starts by recognizing there is a bullying problem at the school.. Then, the program aims at noticing and building media presence on the issue of bullying so that others can see the effects bullying has on students’ mentalities. Recently, the school has been training staff members in how to recognize bullying practices at the high school and how to prevent bullying in the near future.
Additionally, many bright posters around NHS promote anti-bullying practices in the school. A majority of the pictures around the high school spread positive messages, including spreading kindness, making others smile, and inclusivity, so that everyone feels like they belong in our school.
Additionally, on many of the bulletin boards throughout the high school, post-it notes promote second-person notes stating how everyone in the high school should feel included and loved. These brightly-colored post-it notes spread positivity throughout the high school, while also reminding others that they are seen in the school.
On Jan. 19, Jon Pritkin was supposed to share a bullying prevention message along with feats of strength for students in the main gym. However, this presentation was rescheduled to Friday, March 15 because of an unexpected snow day that caused the presentation to be postponed from its original date. Dr. Choby, the current principal of the high school, noted that more information will be shared with students throughout the spring to fully explain the school’s anti-bullying focus.
“[The Olweus program was introduced to the high school] as another resources for staff and students to support the culture of Norwin School District,” Choby said. “It also helps to eliminate barriers that get in the way of learning. A district-wide committee was formed including administrators, teachers, parents, community members, students, and board members. Collectively they chose Olweus.”
Ms. Sweeney, a learning support teacher and Unified Bocce and Track Coach at the high school, received training on the program over the summer with other teachers interested in spreading anti-bullying practices in the school.
“Along with myself, we have Mrs. Haraburda, Mrs. Fiegel, Ms. Fire, and Mrs. Mainwaring on our Olweus committee,” Sweeney said. “We participated in a two day training over the summer. Mrs. Sharon Greene who works with the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program as well as Achieving True Self [also worked with us].”
Clearly, the Olweus Program has many benefits that will improve both the environment of the school and persuade students to treat each other with kindness.
“I think the most beneficial part of the Olweus Program is the overall message it brings to our school,” Sweeney said. “The idea that bullying is not tolerated and has no place in our school. Every student in our school matters and deserves to feel welcomed and comfortable each day. Our hope is that this program inspires all students to be mindful of how they treat one another and encourages them to make the right decisions to be positive members of our school community.”
From spreading a positive message throughout the school to focusing solely on anti-bullying practices in the high school, the Olweus program is here to stay. Dr. Choby found that many students would benefit mentally from the introduction of an anti-bullying program at the high school.
