Focus on TUSD - May 2008

Blenman Elementary Students on Board with Anti-Bullying Program
Blenman Elementary School learned strategies this year help bully-proof their school.

On May 7, about 600 students gathered for a school wide rally, demonstrating the strategies they learned from the "Bully-Proofing Your School" program. The children presented skits showing the ways victims could deal with bullying and prevent further bullying incidents. Other skits demonstrated methods bystanders could use to stop bullying.

Children also signed pledges promising not to bully their classmates. Parents received the pledges and were asked to sign on, too.

To strengthen the program and the "No Bullies at Blenman" initiative, 20 fifth-graders will be trained in peer mediating next fall, learning strategies for mediation and conflict resolution.

Principal Cathryn DeSalvo and Assistant Principal Robin Dunbar are planning another No Bullying Rally in August to kick off the school year and reinforce the bullying prevention efforts already in place at the school at 1695 N. Country Club Road.

Here is the poem John Dearmore's first-graders wrote about bullying:

No Bullies at Blenman
Bullies are cruel
They're not really cool!
Let's all make a promise
No bullies at school!
Let's all get along
Don't act like King Kong
Treat all with respect
And we'll never go wrong!
Blenman's the best
Better than the rest.
A place we feel safe
Like birds in a nest!
Let's all make a vow
Put our shoulders to the plow.
Let's embrace the 3B's
And show everyone how!

-- By Sharon Dunham
Communications & Media Relations

Photos in the May issue by Jes Ruvalcaba of Communications & Media Relations, unless otherwise noted.

The deadline to submit material for the June Focus is Friday, June 13. The Focus will be published Monday, June 23. Email submissions to Chyrl Hill Lander or Sharon Dunham in the Communications & Media Relations Department or use the online Tip Sheet.