LANSDALE – The month of October is most widely known for Breast Cancer Awareness, but it has also been designated as Bullying Prevention Month. Therefore, as part of its bullying prevention efforts, North Penn schools are participating in various activities to show their support to stop bullying.

Posters and signs will be distributed to each classroom in Bridle Path Elementary School and will be signed by each student as a pledge to help end bullying. During the week of October 11^th, kindergarten, first and second grade students will have the book “One” read to them by the school counselor with discussions and activities to follow. Bridle Path Elementary School students will also give daily announcements on how to treat others with respect and kindness. On Wednesday, October 12^th, all students and staff members will wear orange to show unity against bullying. Thursday, October 13^th is the day Bridle Path Elementary School designated for students and staff members to learn and think about using technology safely. Bridle Path’s bullying prevention activities will wrap up on Friday, October 14^th with “Friendship Friday”. On this day, students will recognize everyday kindness of others by writing them on index cards. Please contact Bridle Path Elementary School counselor Rochelle Mantz at [email protected].

At Hatfield and York Avenue elementary schools, a theme of bullying prevention, empathy and kindness will be recognized during the week of October 11-15, 2011 on the following days:

• ·         Tuesday, October 11^th: Tell it all Tuesday and Totally Go All Out

Students and staff members are encourage to dress in something that makes them feel “nice” because feeling good about oneself helps people feel good about others. ­For tell it all Tuesday, students and staff members are asked to remember the three R’s of bullying prevention.

• ·         Wednesday, October 12^th: Wear Orange Wednesday

The school communities are asked to “Make it Orange and Make it End” and unite against bullying on Unity Day by wearing orange to send a message of support to students who have experienced bullying.

• Thursday, October 13^th: Think about it Thursday

Students will be asked how they can be safe when using technology and given tips to remember.

• Friday, October 15^th: Friendship Friday

As important as it is to report bullying, it is also important to recognize kindness. On this day, students and staff members will be asked to recognize the kindness in others. Index cards will be provided in every classroom where students can report kindness.

For more information about these activities at Hatfield Elementary School, located at 1701 Fairgrounds Road in Hatfield, and York Avenue Elementary School, located at 700 York Avenue in Lansdale, please contact school counselor Christina Larkin at [email protected].

At Oak Park Elementary School, students will attend an assembly about bullying prevention on Tuesday, October 11^th at 2:45 p.m. Students and staff members will be wearing orange to unite against bullying on this day. Orange wristbands will also be distributed to the students.

The assembly will include six grade students reading poems about respect and anti-bullying, a read-aloud of the book “One” while it is shown on the large screen and acted out by third grade students, an Olweus pledge for the entire Oak Park community to recite together, an Oak Park Dynamite Video that was produced for the school’s Olweus Bullying Prevention Program kick-off last year and a music video titled “The Same” by Michael and Marissa. In addition, the letters R-E-S-P-E-C-T will be held up by fifth and sixth grade students and their second grade buddies to identify individuals in Oak Park Elementary School who are part of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program such as teachers, bus drivers, etc.

After the assembly, the students will be asked to sign an Anti-Bullying Pledge. For more information about this celebration of Bullying Prevention Month at Oak Park Elementary School, located at 500 Squirrel Lane in Lansdale, please contact Oak Park Elementary School counselor Mindy Schewe at 215-853-1664 or

[email protected].