Fighting and bullying at school has reached epidemic proportions according to some education experts. It affects anywhere between 8 and 18 million students each year depending on the source and the definition of the behavior. The explosion of texting and social media has added a whole new dimension to bullying. But that is changing at Warrenton’s Black Hawk Middle School (BHMS) due to the implementation of a comprehensive program that has dramatically reduced the number of incidents of fighting and bullying. “Last year, we had 60 students disciplined for fighting or bullying, and this year, that number was down to five,” said BHMS Associate Principal Shawn Kelsch. “We’re particularly pleased that serious incidents have dropped off.” The significant reduction is the result of a multifaceted program initiated by school leaders in cooperation with the Warrenton Police Department. The school’s student-driven Students Against Violence in Education (S.A.V.E.) program is a collaborative effort between the school, students and local police to identify bullying and victims of bullying and to encourage positive behavior. “This club of students, led by School Resource Officer (SRO) Andy Binder, has become extremely popular, and now has 30 to 40 kids from all walks of life,” Kelsch stated. “The kids have really taken ownership of this effort, and have stepped up to become role models,” said Binder, emphasizing that by openly supporting victims of bullying, S.A.V.E. participants send a clear signal to bullies that no victim stands alone. “We’re teaching kids how to spot bullies, how to understand different forms of bullying and how to communicate incidents to school staff and law enforcement,” Warrenton Police Chief Greg Houdyshell told The Record, noting students involved in the program become an extra set of eyes and ears for the SRO. A bullying hotline also has been instrumental in thwarting incidents at BHMS. Students can call or text messages to administrators about situations in progress or that appear to be evolving into an incident. “The hotline allows kids to report with complete anonymity, so they feel safer about letting us know immediately if they see or experience something,” said Kelsch. “It takes the fear of retaliation out of the equation, since texting and calling is such a common thing to be doing at any point in time in the halls or on the bus.” The reports are instantly received by the principal’s office allowing staff to immediately begin looking into matters.

School-Wide Positive Behavior System Kelsch said that everything the school is doing to curb fighting and bullying rolls up under a broader umbrella program called a “School-wide Positive Behavior System.” “We’re working on creating a culture where kids feel safer and are more involved in protecting their friends and classmates from any possible threats,” said Kelsch. “This extends to a certain amount of peer pressure to keep tempers under control and avoid acting out.” Kelsch said that the top two priorities among parents surveyed by the school are learning and safety. He noted that concern about safety has heightened after the recent school shootings in Newtown, Conn., and a tornado that hit an elementary school in Moore, Okla. Another pillar in the school-wide system is a classroom re-entry support effort for victims as well as those who initiated the incident. “It’s hard to expect kids who have been bullied to just walk back into the halls and classrooms and carry on like it never happened,” said Kelsch. “So we make sure they have someone to talk with and support them as they try to put this behind them.” This is usually a combination of S.A.V.E. students, counselors and the SRO, he said. BHMS leaders, Binder and counselors also work with offenders coming back from disciplinary suspension to reintegrate them in a constructive way. “We focus on behavioral training, helping these students make better choices, so it becomes a learning event,” said Kelsch, who noted that the process usually involves a letter of apology to the victim from the offender.

Proactive Approach “This drop — especially in serious incidents — is a huge accomplishment for us,” Kelsch said, crediting the school’s staff and students for their work in achieving a safer, fight-free environment. “This allows us to be proactive in stopping situations before they begin,” said Houdyshell. In addition, BHMS staff and law enforcement officials made a strategic decision to move the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) curriculum which targeted fifth-grade students to sixth-graders this year in hopes of seeding character-focused messages when students are more mature. The once-a-week class is part of the school’s 10-week health course. “It’s not a perfect system, but we’ve come a long way in a short amount of time,” said Kelsch. “Our students feel more supported, and know that they have people here who will help.” No Bullying