Date: April 15, 2008

Time: 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Target Audience: Elementary and Middle School Teachers and Adminstrators; Curriculum Support Specialists

How to Connect: H.323 Videoconferencing via the Internet2 Commons. Only one registration per site is necessary. Advanced regsitration is required.

Description:

According to research conducted by the National Education Association, 160,000 children stay home from school each day to avoid bullying. Elementary and middle-school administrators, counselors and teachers who are concerned about the effects of bullying on children will benefit from this informative and interactive presentation. Participants will learn the 10 characteristics of an effective bullying prevention program, watch the "bullying prevention circle" in action, and hear administrators, parents, and teachers talk about bullying and what can be done to prevent it. This program will feature the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, an evidence-based school climate-change program developed at Clemson University with Dr. Dan Olweus, pre-eminent bullying researcher from Norway.

Videoconference Outline:

• Sent in email to all participating sites.

Required Materials

• Bullying True/False Quiz: (PDF). Each participant needs a copy of it. Participants will have time to complete the activity during the videoconference.

• What is Bullying? Handout: (PDF) Each participant should have a copy of this handout to use as a reference during the program.

Preparing for this videoconference seminar:

• Check out the US Department of Health and Human Services National Bullying Prevention Campaign, "Take a Stand. Lend a Hand. Stop Bullying Now," to find a kid-friendly website and many resources for elementary schools

• Download information about the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program from Hazelden.

• Find out what's happening in your own school to prevent and/or respond to bullying

Resources:

• For Pennsylvania schools, the Highmark Foundation is providing leadership and funding to schools to implement bullying prevention programs.

• Hazelden provides extensive information and support for educators who are concerned about bulllying.

• Clemson University coordinates bullying prevention programs and provides certification for Olweus trainers.

About the Presenter:

The presenter for this program is Jane Riese, LSW, MSW National Training Director, Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. Jane is Certified by Dr. Dan Olweus and Dr. Susan Limber, Blueprint authors, as a national Training Director with the U.S. Olweus Bullying Prevention Group. In this position, she conducts bullying prevention training nationally for school professionals, universities, parents, and community organizations. Jane is responsible for U.S. Olweus program development, and the training and consultation for new Olweus trainers. Jane has also been directly responsible for implementing and coordinating the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in schools, grades K-8.

Project Partners: