Olweus Kick-Off

Olweus is the materials we use to teach our students about being a bully-free, safe school. It is named after the man who developed the program. This program has one of the highest success rates to creating safe schools in the world. It is a culture that is adopted by our community. It isn't "just the teachers" who live Olweus. Our cooks, custodians, bus drivers, students, paras, administrators, parents, and even community members were invited to be trained in Olweus. Every year, we have a kick-off to promote our focus for the year. Each week, we meet as individual classrooms to learn about our school culture and develop strategies. Bullying is real. It takes everyday heroes to step up and speak out. It takes everyone.

Ms. Leom's classroom in featured somewhere in this image

 Principal, Mr. Voshell welcomed us to the assembly.

 He introduced one of our school social workers, Mrs. Stupar. She spent two summers attending training in Olweus. She is one of our local experts. Mrs. Stupar is on the "second line" of our bully-free school. She works with student groups to develop friendship skills and strategies to problem solve and be a friend.

Our school has real super heroes. Tucker the Turtle helps teach the friendship skills to our youngest students in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade. Tucker wrote a picture book that shares our skills and uses age appropriate words and skills. Captain Olweus (sixth grade teacher, Mr. Mitch Vedders) speaks out on bullying. When we first met him, Captain Olweus arrived in a (real) helicopter on our school football field! The following year, Captain Olweus arrived on a motorcycle, bringing a new friend, Friendship Girl (kindergarten teacher, Ms. Rose Ash).

Mr. Voshell shared his favorite book, One by Kathryn Otoshi. Staff members acted it out.

In the story of One, the Red dot was a bully. He put down Blue. Other people were Blue's friends, but when Red put her down, no one stopped him.

Since no one stopped him, Red grew bigger. Soon, he was mean to everyone. He grew really big. No one wanted to be around Red.

Then One arrived. She had corners, lines, and she said to stop.

This made Red mad. He came to share his anger. One stood up. This made Red really angry. One didn't back down. Soon all the dots learned that they could be numbers too.

Soon, everyone stood up, and became numbers, The numbers grew. It just takes ONE to make a difference and make the change. Red changed.

It just takes ONE.

Principal, Mr. Voshell reads One.

 Captain Olweus spoke again. We talked about our focus for this year, Kindness.

 Captain Olweus, Mrs. Stupar, and Friendship Girl went over the Olweus rules:
1.) We will not bully others.
2.) We will try to help students who are bullied.
3.) We will try to include students who are left out.
4.) If we know that somebody is being bullied, we will tell an adult at school and an adult at home.

Assistant Principal, Mr. Meyer speaks.

We had a drum cheer.

a still picture of our Wolves Chant

 Mr. Voshell let us in the Wolves Chant.

 SO PROUD to be part of a school community that values the safety of all of our students and makes our school climate a priority. We can't control everyone's words and actions, but we can take a stand, and we can actively work to develop a great place to learn.

Even as we were leaving, Tucker the Turtle was available for kids. (Our high school students rock!). Olweus is a prek-12th grade program. The high school, on general principal, isn't as interested in a Captain Olweus, Friendship Girl, and Tucker the Turtle inspiration, but most appreciate the magic and value for our younger community members.