The Wolf Creek Public School division is hosting an anti-bullying week at all their schools including Eckville Elementary.
Students at the school participate in a variety of activities intended to educate, as well as help prevent bullying at school and for everyone to feel safe coming to school. Students at the school were encouraged to wear orange throughout the week to commemorate the first year of this program.
Principal Ian Mclaren believes this week is important for students at Eckville Elementary.
“Bullying Prevention Week is important to our school because we always want to make sure we have a safe and caring environment,” Mclaren said. “That is a huge priority for us, our students and for everyone. This is a way for us to spend a week focusing on being safe and caring - that’s what it is all about.”
For Mclaren, an important aspect of this week is stressing the importance of respect.
“All of our behavior policies are based on respect,” he said. “Respect for others, respect for yourself and respect for property. If you are treating people with respect and the way you like to be treated, then bullying is hard to happen.”
Mclaren and his staff are excited to see the results of this program.
“This is the first time we have a had a full week focus on bully prevention,” he said. “We are interested to see the impact this will have on the kids.”
Integral to the program is providing education on what bullying means and how to properly handle it.
“Bullying is not an accidental incident - it is something that is repeated, targeted and results in people feeling unsafe or not wanting to come to school,” Mclaren said. “Once they have an understanding of what bullying is - they will be more prepared to adjust their own behaviors.”
He added that once a student reports bullying to a trusted adult – it is important that it is addressed swiftly and positively.
“If someone comes to us with an issue of bullying - the worst thing that could happen is nothing,” he said.
reporter@sylvanlakenews.com