RBUSD Offers Year-Round Programs To Combat Bullying

REDONDO BEACH, 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 Redondo Beach Unified School District is committed to providing a safe learning environment where all students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, Superintendent Dr. Steven Keller told Patch.

"We work closely with our students to teach them the social skills they will need to be successful after they leave us," Keller said. "School programs such as WEB, Link Crew, and Second Step increase school connectedness, promote a positive school climate, foster inclusion, and promote their social development. All of this helps to minimize incidents of mistreatment or bullying on or near our campuses."

WEB, which stands for "Where Everybody Belongs," is a middle school orientation and transition program that welcomes 6th and 7th graders, and makes them feel comfortable throughout their first year of the middle school experience, the RBUSD website said. The program trains 8th grade mentors to be WEB Leaders and positive role models, who guide their younger peers to "discover what it takes to be successful during the transition to middle school," RBUSD said.

Link Crew is a program for junior and senior high school student leaders. The program's goal is to help all new students as they start out at a new school. "Find us on campus anytime, and we are here to help you," Link Crew said on the Redondo Union High School website.

The Beach Cities Health District also offers multiple programs in the social emotional learning sphere for South Bay schools, including Second Step.

Second Step is "a research-based middle school program designed to increase students’ school success and decrease problem behaviors through social-emotional learning and competencies," the Beach Cities Health District website said. "The lessons help develop positive peer relationships, manage strong emotions, create balanced decision-making and increase social and self-awareness. The four units are tailored for each grade level including mindsets and goals; values and friendships; thoughts, emotions and decisions; and serious peer conflicts and anti-bullying behaviors."

Some schools in the district also have Buddy Benches, per a video on the RBUSD website. A Buddy Bench is a place on the playground where a child can go when they want someone to talk to.

For more information on programs within the Redondo Beach 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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