The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program Fleetwood Middle School

The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program History Originally implemented in Bergen, Norway in 42 schools In recent years, program has been tested in Canada, England, Germany, and the U.S. One of the 11 Blueprints for Violence Prevention (Center for the Study & Prevention of Violence)

Researched Outcomes Reductions in students’ self-reports of bullying Reductions in self-reports of other antisocial behaviors (vandalism, school misbehavior) Improved school climate

Rationale Most weapons brought to school by victims of bullying Student suicide Attendance issues School dropout rates School phobia Lower grades and learning impact Ethical and legal liability

Elements of the Program Core team training and planning School-wide interventions Classroom-level interventions Individual interventions Community interventions

Goals Reduce existing bully/victim problems Prevent development of new bully/victim problems Improve peer relations Improve school climate

Bullying A student is being bullied when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more students.

Bullying is…  Intentional harm-doing  Repeated over time  A display of an imbalance of power  Direct or Indirect

Bullying Affects Everyone Victims Bullies Bystanders School Climate

The Program Is Not… A curriculum A conflict resolution program A peer mediation program An anger management program

The Program Is… A school-wide effort Systems AND individual oriented Prevention AND problem-solving Focused on changing norms and behavior Research-based NOT time-limited: Systematic effort over time

Bullying Prevention Core Team Mr. Schutt Mrs. Murray Mrs. Wuscher Mrs. DeCesar Mrs. Porambo Mrs. Theodore Ms. Rowlands Mrs. Joseph Mrs. Hannum Ms. Price Ms. Strunk Ms. Zawaski