How ITCA is Spreading Kindness This Bullying Prevention Month

This October, we highlight National Bullying Prevention Month, a month of promoting kindness, friendship, and support to our peers. This month of observation was first recognized in 2006 by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, aiming to make communities aware of the adverse impact that bullying can have on children’s mental health while also sharing helpful resources and advocating for change. According to Stopbullying.gov, bullying is “unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated or has the potential to be repeated over time.” However, in the digital age, bullying has expanded into the online realm through cyberbullying.

Since cyberbullying does not occur as openly as traditional bullying, it may be easy to miss. Cyberbullying can take place through online chats, texts, social media, gaming platforms, and online discussions, making it harder to detect if such mediums are not properly monitored.

Thanks to organizations like PACER, we have now come a long way in recognizing the signs of bullying such as:

• Withdrawal from class discussions
• Reluctance to participate online
• Sudden drops in academic performance
• Increased absences

Most importantly, we’ve made significant impacts in preventing all forms of bullying, ensuring that our students view school as a safe and welcoming place for them to grow, learn, and interact with their peers.

Here at ITCA, we recognize National Bullying Prevention Month by encouraging kindness inside and outside of the classroom. Want to do your part? Check out these 7 Kindness Habits for Virtual Learners.

Use Respectful Language

Make sure you are using respectful language when communicating with others, especially through online forums. Tone and intent are harder to perceive online than in person, so it is always important to be clear and respectful when communicating.

Be Patient when Classmates Need Help

Sometimes a student may need extra support. As a peer, you should try to lend a helping hand whenever possible. Whether this be helping them out in class, reaching out afterwards to make sure they are okay, or directing them to a resource like a teacher or counselor. Be a helpful person your peers know they can count on for patience and support.

Offer Encouragement During Group Work

Group work can be intimidating for some students. Oftentimes, group dynamics may prevent all members from being heard or speaking up for themselves. If you notice a person who hasn’t had the chance to contribute to a group discussion, encourage them to speak about their ideas. It might help them feel more comfortable doing so moving forward, and the group might benefit from a great contribution.

Avoid Gossip and Rumors

Spreading gossip and rumors about your peers can foster a toxic and unwelcoming environment for students. Hurtful, and often false, rumors have the potential to both negatively affect a person’s mental health as well as make the school environment feel unsafe and uncomfortable. The Golden Rule is to treat others the way you want to be treated. Gossip and rumors only hurt others when the aim should be to make sure everyone feels safe and welcome.

Stand Up for Others

If you see someone around you experiencing bullying or unwelcome treatment from another, stand up for them. A mediator may effectively deescalate a situation, discourage a bully from repeating the behavior, and let the affected student know that someone has their back, allowing them to feel safer and more confident standing up for themselves. When the situation is safe and allows for intervention, be sure to stand up for peers in need.

Give Positive Feedback

As mentioned earlier, sometimes in a digital setting, it becomes especially harder to differentiate tone and intended meaning in conversation. Consistently giving our peers positive feedback reminds them that they are a valuable member of the community and that their contributions are appreciated. Additionally, breaking the ice with positive feedback can make constructive criticism easier to digest. All of us feel better after a little bit of praise, so spread that feeling whenever possible.

Include Everyone in Conversations

Have you ever wanted so badly to contribute to a conversation but didn’t know just where to start? This is surely a common occurrence for most of us, so in moments where a group is engaged in a dynamic discussion, be that person that invites new perspectives. This allows peers that are shy or intimidated to feel valued and included. Plus, by getting to know someone new, you may end up with a new friend!

How ITCA Supports Students

For many, virtual school is a refuge from previous instances of bullying or from an environment where they felt they didn’t fit in. Our goal at ITCA is to foster a sense of belonging in each of our students. In addition to being able to personalize their learning pathways, we promote a welcoming environment for students through clubs, FFA, BPA, HOSA, and in-person events. Our commitment to student achievement academically, personally, and socially is what makes our learning program so unique.

As we reflect on National Bullying Prevention Month and the progress we’ve made, it’s also important to remember that the goal is not just to prevent bullying, but to enable kindness and community everywhere!

Interested in learning more about our inclusive school community? Explore enrollment options today! itca.k12.com

This October, we highlight National Bullying Prevention Month, a month of promoting kindness, friendship, and support to our peers. This month of observation was first recognized in 2006 by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, aiming to make communities aware of the adverse impact that bullying can have on children’s mental health while also sharing helpful resources and advocating for change. According to Stopbullying.gov, bullying is “unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated or has the potential to be repeated over time.” However, in the digital age, bullying has expanded into the online realm through cyberbullying.

Since cyberbullying does not occur as openly as traditional bullying, it may be easy to miss. Cyberbullying can take place through online chats, texts, social media, gaming platforms, and online discussions, making it harder to detect if such mediums are not properly monitored.

Thanks to organizations like PACER, we have now come a long way in recognizing the signs of bullying such as:

• Withdrawal from class discussions
• Reluctance to participate online
• Sudden drops in academic performance
• Increased absences

Most importantly, we’ve made significant impacts in preventing all forms of bullying, ensuring that our students view school as a safe and welcoming place for them to grow, learn, and interact with their peers.

Here at ITCA, we recognize National Bullying Prevention Month by encouraging kindness inside and outside of the classroom. Want to do your part? Check out these 7 Kindness Habits for Virtual Learners.

Use Respectful Language

Make sure you are using respectful language when communicating with others, especially through online forums. Tone and intent are harder to perceive online than in person, so it is always important to be clear and respectful when communicating.

Be Patient when Classmates Need Help

Sometimes a student may need extra support. As a peer, you should try to lend a helping hand whenever possible. Whether this be helping them out in class, reaching out afterwards to make sure they are okay, or directing them to a resource like a teacher or counselor. Be a helpful person your peers know they can count on for patience and support.

Offer Encouragement During Group Work

Group work can be intimidating for some students. Oftentimes, group dynamics may prevent all members from being heard or speaking up for themselves. If you notice a person who hasn’t had the chance to contribute to a group discussion, encourage them to speak about their ideas. It might help them feel more comfortable doing so moving forward, and the group might benefit from a great contribution.

Avoid Gossip and Rumors

Spreading gossip and rumors about your peers can foster a toxic and unwelcoming environment for students. Hurtful, and often false, rumors have the potential to both negatively affect a person’s mental health as well as make the school environment feel unsafe and uncomfortable. The Golden Rule is to treat others the way you want to be treated. Gossip and rumors only hurt others when the aim should be to make sure everyone feels safe and welcome.

Stand Up for Others

If you see someone around you experiencing bullying or unwelcome treatment from another, stand up for them. A mediator may effectively deescalate a situation, discourage a bully from repeating the behavior, and let the affected student know that someone has their back, allowing them to feel safer and more confident standing up for themselves. When the situation is safe and allows for intervention, be sure to stand up for peers in need.

Give Positive Feedback

As mentioned earlier, sometimes in a digital setting, it becomes especially harder to differentiate tone and intended meaning in conversation. Consistently giving our peers positive feedback reminds them that they are a valuable member of the community and that their contributions are appreciated. Additionally, breaking the ice with positive feedback can make constructive criticism easier to digest. All of us feel better after a little bit of praise, so spread that feeling whenever possible.

Include Everyone in Conversations

Have you ever wanted so badly to contribute to a conversation but didn’t know just where to start? This is surely a common occurrence for most of us, so in moments where a group is engaged in a dynamic discussion, be that person that invites new perspectives. This allows peers that are shy or intimidated to feel valued and included. Plus, by getting to know someone new, you may end up with a new friend!

How ITCA Supports Students

For many, virtual school is a refuge from previous instances of bullying or from an environment where they felt they didn’t fit in. Our goal at ITCA is to foster a sense of belonging in each of our students. In addition to being able to personalize their learning pathways, we promote a welcoming environment for students through clubs, FFA, BPA, HOSA, and in-person events. Our commitment to student achievement academically, personally, and socially is what makes our learning program so unique.

As we reflect on National Bullying Prevention Month and the progress we’ve made, it’s also important to remember that the goal is not just to prevent bullying, but to enable kindness and community everywhere!

Interested in learning more about our inclusive school community? Explore enrollment options today! itca.k12.com

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