Murrieta Students Learn Bullying Prevention, Bystander Effect

MURRIETA, CA — October is National Bullying Prevention Month, meant to bring attention to the bullying problem and involve people nationwide in a conversation on how to create a world safe from bullying.

The Murrieta Valley Unified School District has a firm policy against bullying in the school code, which was just updated last year, and several schools were planning activities throughout the month and year to address bullying, according to MVUSD Spokeswoman Monica Gutierrez.

"All school counselors (District-wide) are in classrooms working with students this month teaching guidance lessons in the areas of bullying prevention and the bystander effect, building healthy friendships and proactive strategies to use when someone is behaving in a negative way," Gutierrez said in an email to Patch. "Depending on the school schedule, students in elementary and middle school are receiving 3-5 lessons on the is topic in October."

What's more, all school newsletters this month include bullying prevention tips, like the sample below.

Among the other things happening in MVUSD this month are special "anti-bullying" skits during Flag Fridays in the elementary schools, Gutierrez said. Then, coming up on Oct. 23, all Murrieta students are encouraged to wear the color orange for Unity Day "to show together we are against bullying and united for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion."

Here are some additional grade-level activities planned, according to Gutierrez:

• 3rd and 4th grade classes are receiving a counseling instruction lesson through Second STEP to address the 3R’s (recognize, report, and refuse bullying).
• 5th grade classes are receiving a counseling instruction lesson through Second STEP to address cyberbullying.
• 6th grade -8th grade are receiving the By-stander Effect lessons and general bullying prevention in class lessons.

For more information on programs within the Murrieta Valley Unified School District, visit the school district's website.

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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