Be Someone's Treat This Week

Halloween is almost here. There will be costumes, candy, and adults in costumes enjoying the anonymity.

But some students face a different kind of fright: walking into a cafeteria with nowhere to sit, hearing laughter and wondering whether it is about them, or opening a group chat and wishing they hadn't.

As the last week of anti-bullying month, here are some timely ideas that you might try out in your schools.

1. Send a reminder for adults

If a student describes bullying, thank them, speak with them privately, and follow through using your school's procedures. Students experiencing bullying deserve adult protection and support; stopping it is not their responsibility.

2. Issue the Halloween challenge: Be someone's treat!

Invite teachers to participate in this one. Ask the students if they know about someone in their grade who often feels left out or made fun of. No names! Then, ask them what they could do to help that student feel important this week. For example:

• make room at a table for a person to sit

• invite someone into an activity

• refuse to pass along a hurtful message

• watch out for someone who seems left out and involve them in an activity

3. In elementary schools

On paper pumpkins or ghosts, have students complete:

“This week, I can help someone feel they belong by __________.”

Display them on the classroom door or wall outside the classroom.

Keep the focus on actions students do and then say with curiosity:

“I noticed you made room for someone. What helped you think of that?”

4. In middle or high schools

Consider asking the following questions during an advisory or home room period:

“What might it take for our school to feel safer and more friendly?”

Once you hear the answers, ask students to decide how they could make it happen just for a week. Put their answers somewhere in the room to remind them of what their ideas were.

The costumes will be gone next week. The candy will disappear. But talking with your students and asking them for ideas that keep their school safe and end bullying goes a long way. They won't forget the fact that you asked them for advice. In fact, use this approach any time you are at a loss on what to do about any situation. It may be a treat for you to know the goodness in your students.