Loomis Project Pride

One way in which we help students make Project PRIDE connections is by conducting classroom lessons throughout the year that focus on anti-bullying and pro-social behavior. Mrs. Busch, Mrs. Ward, physical education teacher and Mrs. Conway, guidance counselor, begin each school year by meeting with all students at grade-level meetings where expectations, rules, routines and positive behavior are addressed. Rules for the school building, lunchroom, playground and buses are reviewed. LEO the Loomis Leopard also attend these meetings to support the importance of these messages!

Lessons that make Project PRIDE connections are conducted throughout the school year. Lesson topics include:

understanding feelings (Kindergarten, 1 st & 2 nd grade),
self-awareness (Kindergarten, 1 st & 3 rd grade),
I-messages (1 st grade),
BABES program – self-esteem, peer pressure, choices, when to get help, friendship (2 nd grade),
positive social skills and peer relationships (3 rd grade),
problem-solving (3 rd grade),
learning about self and others (4 th grade),
understanding differences (4 th grade),
career awareness (4 th grade),
communication skills (5 th grade)empathy and point of view (5 th grade),
transitioning to middle school (5 th grade).

Making good choices is discussed and connected to building and maintaining friendships. How to be an empowered bystander is introduced to new students with the help of classmates, using realistic examples to help students formulate things to do and say when they see a peer being bullied.

Standing Up and Speaking Out against Bullying — " Bullying cannot be viewed and simply as an interaction between two individuals, but as a complex group activity in which the social processes going on within the entire group, i.e. bully, bullied, and bystander, are involved. Bullying is challenged when the majority stands up against the cruel acts of a minority. Establishing new norms, enforcing playground rules, and increasing supervision are policy decisions that can help reduce the incidents of bullying."

"But since much of the bullying goes on “under the radar of adults,” a potent force is kids themselves showing bullies that they will not be looked up to, nor will their cruel behavior be condoned or tolerated. Kids need not be bystanders. They can become active witnesses, standing up for their peers, speaking out against injustices, and taking responsibility for what happens among themselves."*

Health lessons are also taught at the beginning of the year with 5 th grade students focusing specifically on what bullying looks and sounds like, what you can do about it and how to help prevent it. The students also review their anti-bullying goals created 4th grade. Mrs. Conway visits all classrooms at the beginning of the year where common problems of students were discussed. A major focus of the lesson is having children identify an adult that they trust (a parent, grandparent, teacher, counselor, aunt, etc.) and could go to if they needed help with a problem (such as someone was bullying them).

Lessons that make Project PRIDE connections continue throughout the school year. Lesson topics will include: understanding feelings, self-awareness, I-messages, positive social skills and peer relationships, problem-solving, learning about self and others, understanding differences, empathy and point of view.

Class meetings conducted by the classroom teachers focus on Making Good Choices and How to Talk- it- Out. Students are reminded to Stop, Think, & Make a Good Choice when conflicts or problems arise. Meetings or discussions usually take place in response to a student’s report of a conflict or problem.

Each teacher establishes and reviews classroom guidelines for behavior with the students in his/her class.
The rules are established with student input.

Students have the opportunity to take an active role in problem solving and decision making.
We teach the importance of standing up and speaking out to prevent or stop teasing and bullying

Project PRIDE — Guidance & Classroom Activities