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3rd Grade Technology Safety

5/22/2017

Dear 3rd Grade Parents and Guardians,

This week, we are discussing technology safety. The range of devices and programs students use has increased dramatically in just the past few years, and while this has created new opportunities to have fun and connect with others, it also has created new safety risks. As part of our discussion, we are discussing a range of topics. They include:

Be wary of sharing personal information online. This includes your address, phone number, even the names of family members.
If something happens online that makes you uncomfortable, go immediately to a trusted adult.
Passwords are often the only thing protecting your online material. Work with your family to create strong passwords and never share passwords with other people, even close friends.
Be aware that information that is shared online is very difficult to delete. If you wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing something with the whole school, don’t share it online.
Negative comments made online are just as hurtful as those made in person. Be a kind member of the online community and work to help others that are being mistreated or bullied online. And if someone starts saying hurtful things to you, stop communicating with them immediately and tell an adult.

As parents and guardians, you have the most important job when it comes to keeping our students safe online. As you think through supporting your children, please consider checking out Common Sense Media. It covers a range of topics, from age appropriate apps to internet safety and privacy.

Thank you for your help supporting this important lesson.

Sincerely,
David Starr
School Counselor, Armstrong Elementary School
PH: 508-836-7760 Email: starrd@westboroughk12.org

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2nd Grade Bullying Awareness

5/22/2017

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Dear Second Grade Parents and Guardians,

This week, we are discussing bullying in second grade. Given the Massachusetts bullying legislation, it is not only incredibly important for us to begin to educate our students on bullying at an early age, but is also the law.

For this lesson, students watched an episode from the show Arthur, a cartoon about the experience of a group of students in elementary school. In the episode, Arthur, the main character, who is usually nice to his peers, starts to make fun of a friend for the sweater she is wearing. It takes the work of his teacher, friends, and the target of the bullying for him to realize that what he thought was a joke was actually bullying.

As part of the lesson, the students took time to consider what made Arthur’s actions bullying. They learned that when a person continues to tease someone even after they have been told to stop, it’s bullying. The students shared their surprise that Arthur, who is usually a nice character, could become a bully. They learned that anyone can make the mistake of teasing someone repeatedly without realizing how hurtful it can be. We also highlighted the importance of the bystanders, the other friends who saw what was happening and worked to help the target. Students learned that bystanders have a lot of power in a bullying situation. They can make things worse by laughing at the actions of the bullying student. Or they can work to help resolve the situation.

If you have a moment, ask your child what they remember from the cartoon we watched. You can even review the questions we discussed. The episode can be found online by searching for “Arthur, So Funny I Forgot to Laugh,” and the questions we reviewed are:

What made Arthur’s actions bullying?
Were you surprised that a usually kind character like Arthur could become a bully, why or why not?
Why do you think he bullied the girl in the video?
In the end, who helped him figure out that what he was doing was wrong?

Thank you for your work reviewing this important lesson.

Sincerely,
David Starr
School Counselor, Armstrong Elementary School
PH: 508-836-7760 Email: starrd@westboroughk12.org

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Kindergarten - What do I do if I am Being Bullied?

5/7/2017

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This week, we are continuing our unit on bullying awareness in Kindergarten classes. Last time we met, students learned that bullying can occur when someone continues to do hurtful things to another person even after they have asked them to stop. For this lesson, we are focusing on what students can do if they think they are being bullied. We are reading a story called "Lucy and the Bully." The book shares how upsetting and scary it is to be bullied as well as how difficult it can be to ask for help. However, like other dangerous or destructive situations, students are learning that if they are being bullied, it is incredibly important to tell an adult they trust. We are working together to brainstorm different adults we can talk to both at school and at home.

If you have a moment, ask your child to tell you the adult they would turn to for help.

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First Grade - Being a Bystander to Bullying

5/7/2017

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In first grade, we are continuing our work on bullying awareness. During our last lesson, students learned that bullying can occur when someone continues to do hurtful things to another person, even after they have asked them to stop or have shown that they do not like what is happening. For this lesson, students learned about the role of a bystander in a bullying situation. Bystanders are students that see bullying happen. They have the power to support the victim, the person who is being bullied, by helping them walk away and get an adult. They can even talk to the person doing the bullying if they feel comfortable. Sometimes, simply sharing a kind word or including the person being bullied can be enough to help. It can be hard to be a bystander to bullying, but it is an incredibly important job.

For this lesson, students worked to brainstorm what they might do if they were a bystander to bullying. If you have a moment, ask your child to share some strategies they think might help.

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3rd Grade Technology Safety

2nd Grade Bullying Awareness

Kindergarten - What do I do if I am Being Bullied?

First Grade - Being a Bystander to Bullying

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