Issaquah Schools Participate In Bullying Prevention Month

ISSAQUAH, WA — October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and school districts throughout the country are taking special care to remind students to treat each other with respect and stand up for one another. In Issaquah, several schools are holding unique lessons this month, but district officials say the mission continues far beyond October.

"Anti-bullying work has been going on for years in our district and it is embedded in what we do," said L. Michelle, Executive Director of Communications for the district.

"Although we have these national observance weeks that come up in the news/awareness cycles, we don't necessarily schedule our learning opportunities or programs around them. They happen all the time."

At Sunny Hills Elementary this week, students had a chance to learn how to identify and prevent bullying during their daily morning announcements and a series of lunchtime presentations. Teachers also did a school-wide review of the district's new Equitable Treatment Pledge.

Endeavor Elementary's Second Step Bullying Prevention Unit is teaching a bullying prevention lesson to every single class throughout the month. Similar lessons are underway at Apollo Elementary, where students also have "buddy classes" throughout the year, which lets older students teach their younger peers a new skill.

At Cascade Ridge Elementary, every class will be taught a series of bullying lessons and sign an Equitable Treatment Pledge card.

New this year, Issaquah School District added a section on "equitable conduct" to all student handbooks:

· Respect each individual, even if that person’s identity is different from your own.
· Seek to understand your impact on others while seeking to understand other’s intent.
· Communicate respectfully with others in person, on social media, and in any other form.
· Use what you are learning to use good judgment and make ethical and informed decisions.
· Take responsibility for your words and actions. We all have a responsibility to report behavior that interferes with having an equitable and inclusive learning environment that honors and respects people of all identities.

Students who see potential bullying are encouraged to tell a teacher or trusted adult immediately. The district says, if it is comfortable and safe to do so, students should also speak up in the moment and support those being hurt.

Last year, Issaquah also adopted a new equity policy to address not only bullying but also ensure all students have the resources they need to succeed.

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.
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