Bullying is unfortunately something that every child will be exposed to in some capacity during their formative years. Whether a child is labeled a bully, being bullied or witnessing bullying it is something that needs to be addressed and taken seriously.
October is recognized as National Bullying Prevention Month and, during the month of October, the counselors at Smithville Elementary make sure to address all aspects of bullying with every grade.
"We discuss bullying and how to report it, and then we talk about compassion, empathy and kindness; because, at the end of the day, the act of bullying all stems from a deeper issue of sadness, hurt, anger or insecurity," said SES Counselor, Cory Williams. "This message inspires so many discussions that range from what some students are experiencing at home, to a time they felt left out, a time they experienced bullying or even a time they acted as the bully. Hearing the students' discussions and listening to the apologies, the vulnerability and the “aha” moments that happen inside that classroom is amazing. Discussions like those remind me just how fortunate I am to be the counselor that gets to witness these amazing dialogues."
Another focus in October is Unity Day, celebrated on October 18th. Students and staff were encouraged to wear orange to provide a powerful, visually-compelling expression of solidarity. Thankfully...ORANGE IS OUR COLOR!
On Unity Day, the counselors try to reiterate that it is important to be kind, because every peer they come across is dealing with something they know nothing about. These types of conversations will not stop once October is over. It is an ongoing conversation that will happen all year long and hopefully a way of life each student adopts.
