Where did it originate

The Bullying Prevention Program is a new initiative introduced by the Saskatoon Blades for the 2007-2008 regular season. The program is aimed at Saskatoon public and catholic elementary schools that are interested in participating in the program. All interested schools will be encouraged to contact the Saskatoon Blades Community Relations department for registration information.

Purpose of the Program

In order to emphasize the important relationship between sports, academics and social skills development, this program will provide Saskatoon elementary schools the opportunity to utilize the Saskatoon Blades personnel as champion proponents against bullying within their schools.

Program Outline

The program is one that utilizes and expands the current education bullying program used within the Saskatoon Board of Education. Developed through the Saskatoon Blades current school relationships, players will take opportunities to discuss this program within Saskatoon schools and thus continue to help children identify what bullying is and that bullying is not an acceptable behavior.

Program Curriculum

The Saskatoon Blades anti-bullying program comprises a number of stand-alone products which can be used individually or together as an effective “game plan” designed to address and prevent bullying between elementary school children. The program provides teachers and youth group leaders the flexibility to use some or all of the activities.

Designed to follow Saskatchewan’s curriculum requirements for elementary grades, this lesson plan proposes interesting, interactive, easy-to-use classroom activities that the Saskatoon Blade players will help present. A wide range of activities covering brainstorming, group work and role-playing culminates with a class pledge to work against bullying. The process enhances overall awareness and ability to deal with bullying.

Classroom Program

Step 1)

Introduction: Using the Saskatoon Board of Education Bullying program Fact Sheet the teacher presents a quick overview of bullying to students focusing on the definition of bullying, the different roles or players involved and why bullying must be stopped.

The Saskatoon Blades players that are in attendance would then be introduced to the class and give a brief background of why they are there and what bullying means to them

Step 2)

Inventory Student Experiences with Bullying: This classroom activity encourages students to share their own personal experiences with respect to bullying. They should be prompted to think of instances where they were bystanders, victims, or bullies. Teachers should list examples on the chalkboard and prompt students to clearly identify the different types of bullying in each example. The different types of bullying are:

1. Physical Bullying
2. Verbal Bullying
3. Indirect Bullying

These are different options or steps that could then be implemented depending on the age of the students and time constraints:

Student Group Presentations: Break the class up into small groups. Ask students to select one example of bullying for their group. Together they will prepare a presentation. This presentation can take one of the following formats:

• Written project
• Comic strip illustration
• Skit or role playing
• Audio recording (voice only)
• Video recording montage

The different presentation formats permit various options for presentation to the class or even the school.

The group presentations must cover a scenario that presents a bullying situation and proper interventions and/or behavioral responses to the bullying situation. ‘Before and After’ type of scenario works well!

For each situation presented, group members should clearly cover:

1. Location – where the incident happens
2. Facts that made the incident an act or bullying
3. The different players
4. Emotions experienced by the players
5. Potential long-term impact of these incidents

Students can capture the key aspects of the bullying situations by answering the questions: what happened, when it happened, and potential reasons why it happened.

Following the presentation, the teacher can prompt a class discussion focusing on additional solutions and proper behaviors’ in response to such incidents.

Saskatoon Blades “No to Bullying” Contract

To continue the youth awareness process on the issues around bullying the Saskatoon Blades suggest that the class prepare a contract, which all students then sign. The Saskatoon Blades “No to Bullying” Contract template provides a starting point for this activity.

Start by brainstorming with your class or group to identify the behavioral rules or conditions that students would like to see included in the contract. The teacher/group leader may want to give examples.

Children should choose 3 or 4 contract conditions such as:

• We agree that everyone in the classroom deserves respect
• We agree to help students that are bullied by not standing by idly and watching but by telling an adult
• We agree not to use name-calling or put-downs
• We include everyone when we engage in group activities
• We do not tolerate any hitting, punching or kicking
• We do not keep quiet about bullying and will tell an adult

Using the Saskatoon Blades “No to Bullying” Contract template write up the 3 or 4 rules that students agree to and then have each student sign the contract. This contract with children can be displayed in the classroom.

When selecting what goes into the contract the Saskatoon Blades players could also have certain items that they want to speak about and implement. With the Saskatoon Blades players giving ideas it would be a good way for the children to take notice of how important bullying prevention is and help them realize bullying is not accepted.

Summation

The Saskatoon Blades, much like their corporate sponsors, have a vested interest in the development and recognition of our youth. This program was developed in a way that lets both the Saskatoon Blades and their corporate sponsor have a positive influence on the youth of Saskatoon, both in sport and academics.