St. Catherine' School Discusses Bullying Prevention In Laguna

LAGUNA BEACH, CA —A small Catholic school in Laguna Beach paused to chat with Patch about how potential bullying situations are addressed on campus.

At St. Catherine's, bullying is handled before events spiral out of control.

"We all hear about bad situations," Stephanie Simpson, M.B.A.Director of Advancement & Admissions of St. Catherines told Patch.

Small class sizes, according to the school, aid in the rapid quelling of bullying at school.

"This coupled with the full-time counselor we have on-staff allows us to nip the potential issue at its inception," Simpson said.

When there is a problem between students, as there will be with kids in their formative years, "we address the potential issue and immediately meet with all parties, inclusive of parents, teachers, Principal, and those involved."

In that, St. Catherine's is not alone. Larger districts follow similar protocols, however with the more intimate setting, Simpson feels that St. Catherine's has an easier way of identifying issues. The school conducts quick follow up to diffuse volatile situations on campus.

"We have a strict zero-tolerance policy that is adhered to, and we expect our students to respect each other," she said. "If the student does not adhere to our policies, then they may be asked to leave."

St. Catherine's strives to maintain a safe environment, free of bullying so that students can focus on learning.

The crux of the matter, according to Simpson, is learning how to get along both inside the classroom and outside of the school grounds.

"If children don't learn to get along and respect each other when they are young, how can we expect them to become contributing community members when they become adults?" she asked.

As part of a national reporting project, Patch has been looking at society's roles and responsibilities in bullying and a child's unthinkable decision to end their own life in hopes we might offer solutions that save lives.

Do you have a story to tell? Are you concerned about how your local schools handle bullies and their victims?
Email us at bullies@patch.com and share your views in the comments.
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