April is National Child Abuse and Awareness Month- At Snowdon Elementary we will be discussing how to keep yourself safe, have a safety network of adults you trust and how to say no. Be on the lookout for a letter describing the curriculum the district uses and who you can go to for questions. In the meantime, here's how you can best support your child with those hard conversations. Click the arrow to find out more...
Parent Information Night
for Incoming Cheney Middle School 6th graders
Where: Snowdon Elementary
When: April 26th from 5:30-6:30pm
Who: For 5th Grade Cougars transitioning
to Cheney Middle School Hawks!
Dear Snowdon Families,
During the next couple of weeks, Snowdon students will be participating in lessons and activities that help educate them about bullying prevention. Here are some helpful tips when talking with your children about bullying.
Communication is Essential to Preventing Bullying
In order to know what’s going on with your children, you need to ask. Talk to your children regularly about school so they can understand what bullying is and how your child should respond if they are being bullied or if they know someone else who is.
A good way to begin is by asking the right questions. Rather than asking, “How was your day?” which usually leads to: “good” or “ok,” consider asking questions that encourage a longer conversation. Some examples include:
Knowing the right time and place to talk is also important. For young children, after school snack or dinner time offers a chance for meaningful communication and gives children an opportunity to share while they are also focused on eating.
As they get older, car rides offer a great opportunity for talking with your child.
What to Do If Your Child Thinks They’re Being Bullied
If your child discloses that they think they are being bullied, make sure they understand that it is NOT their fault. Reassure them that they did the right thing by telling you. Do make sure to talk to your child about the difference between a conflict and bullying. Conflict is a disagreement that happens when people want different things. If what your child starts to explain is sounding more like bullying, below are the questions needing to be asked:
Once you understand the facts, it is important to communicate with your child’s school. As the school tells your child, if the incident is not reported we cannot help set up plans, monitor the situation, or help. Sometimes, children witness bullying and want to do something about it, but they’re not sure what to do. In our bully prevention lesson, we call this action empowering the bystander. It is important to recognize that how children respond may vary depending on the particular situation, how well they know the people involved, and whether they are older or younger, etc.
Did you know?
“When children intervene in a bullying situation, it can have a powerful effect. Research shows that when peers intervene in a bullying situation, the bullying stops nearly 60% of the time.”
Empowering the Bystander
Our first priority at Snowdon is to create, ensure, and sustain a safe and positive learning environment. Please partner with us to support your children.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call or email me.