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ASFG BULLYING PREVENTION PROGRAM
Bullying research has shown that effective bullying prevention programs facilitate a change in social
norms within a community, thus creating a collective identity that takes a stand against acts of
violence. What does this mean? In most school communities, only a small percentage of students are
directly involved in bullying incidents, either as aggressors or victims. However, many students are
silent witnesses or bystanders who do not report or confront the bully out of fear of becoming victims
themselves. The silence of the bystanders is interpreted by the bullies as approval for their behavior
and therefore perpetuates the cycle of aggression. The true power behind an effective prevention
program consists of giving the bystanders the tools and mechanisms to report and/or take
a stand against a bullying situation.
For this reason, ASFG's bullying prevention program seeks to transform, through a continuous process
of dialogue and reflection, the community's social norms and reinforce the school's identity as that of
a caring community. Ultimately, the program's purpose is to transmit the enormous power and
responsibility that each member of the school has when witnessing any type of aggression or harmful
behavior.
ASFG's Bullying Prevention Program seeks to educate the school community about bullying
and how to address it. It is intended to reduce the number of students who are involved in bullying
situations and to provide the community with tools to recognize and report bullying behavior.
The program consists of five main areas:
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Human Development Program: Through this program, students learn and practice skills that allow
them to continue developing and nurturing healthy relationships. Students are able to focus on their
personal and social development and identify indicators of unhealthy relationships, bullying
situations and conflicts. Students are exposed to tools that help them address harmful relationships
and situations.
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Workshops: Workshops on topics related to bullying prevention are offered to ASFG staff and parents. The main
goals of the workshops are to communicate relevant and updated information about the school's policies, offer
mechanisms for dealing with bullying situations and to create a common language and understanding among the
different members of the school.
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School and section events that focus on a caring community: Every year, time is designated to reinforce and
celebrate our values as a caring community. Through a collaborative effort, teachers and students of all sections
participate in different activities that promote a caring school climate.
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School Climate/Bullying Survey: Students participate in a bullying survey and parents complete a school climate
survey on a regular basis. These surveys provide the school with valuable information about students' and parents'
perceptions. The data is utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of the program and establish new goals. Students and
teachers also reflect on these survey results, using critical thinking and extrapolating from the data to their own
experience.
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Class meetings: The purpose of class meetings is to build class cohesion and community, teach bullying prevention,
and help students understand their role and the consequences of bullying behaviors. Class meetings provide
opportunities for students to be heard in a safe environment and enhance communication among peers.
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