Avon Middle School Tackles Bullying

Just under 20 percent of the 476 students who took Avon Middle School's end-of-the-year survey last June said that they have felt physically threatened or bullied while at the middle school. Nearly 18 percent of 475 students indicated they had been cyber-bullied.

That makes 94 students who feel they've been bullied and 85 who indicated they had been victims of cyber-bullying.

“That is a number we’re not comfortable with,” Avon Middle School Principal Marco Famiglietti said.

Yet, there was only one confirmed case of bullying at the middle school last year, a case that happened verbally in-person.

Some students may even consider a bully anyone who is not nice to them, Avon Middle School Assistant Principal Kathryn Lawson pointing out, noting that "bullying" has many meanings.

“It is a very widely used term. It gets confusing,” Famiglietti said. “Are they verifiable acts of bullying? There’s no way to tell because it’s an anonymous survey.”

Regardless, Avon Middle School officials are not overlooking the results of the survey.

“If 20 percent of kids have the perception that they have been bullied, that’s still not good,” Kathryn Lawson, Avon Middle School assistant principal, said.

The state of Connecticut is also pushing to prevent bullying and promote safe schools. The General Assembly recently passed Public Act 11-232, anti-bullying legislation that becomes effective July 1, 2012.

While anti-bullying schoolboard policies exist in Avon and statewide, Famiglietti said the new laws put an added emphasis on stamping out bullying before it can happen.

“It’s very reactive in nature instead of proactive,” Famiglietti said of how schools in Connecticut handle bullying now.

Under the new public act, every district will need to approve a new safe school climate Board of Education policy and implement it by July 1. 

"One of the things I'm pleased with is that we have to continue to document efforts to prevent bullying," Avon Superintendent of Schools Gary Mala said.

That isn't limited to what happens on school grounds.

"One of the challenges in the new law is the policy in the new safe school climate plan really speaks to out-of-school conduct too and potential bullying claims because they've been manifested through the use of technology," Mala said. "Cyber-bullying. Does it occur from a computer terminal in someone's home to another student in their home? Schools are responsible to intervene."

Each district will also need a safe school climate specialist, which will mean added responsibilities for an administrator in Avon, Mala said. That way, the district will not have the expense of hiring a new person for that position.

"We have someone who already has that as part of duties and that will continue," Mala said. "It's just going to be a title change."

Each school will also have a safe school climate committee and the chairpeople will likely be the assistant principals, Lawson said.

Famiglietti said that in addition to punishing bullying, it is important to build a safe, positive school environment that promotes respect toward peers.

“Conflict is a natural part of life and something we need to develop with students how to deal with,” Famiglietti said.

Avon Middle School has also used the creative approach to discouraging bullying, like the one-man comedy act, Dirt the Avon Community of Concern brought to the middle school about peer pressure and substance abuse.

"A lot of times, victims of being bullied will find ways to self medicate," Famiglietti said, so the show was relevant.

Avon Middle School also facilitates Don't Laugh at Me programs that are customized to the school.

Students learn about supporting peers in extracurricular programs like , which had its first performance last Wednesday. 

“It makes positive peer relations the norm,” Lawson said.

The middle school is also known for its ropes course, which has been around for 10 years or so, teaching students conflict resolution and team bonding skills. 

The health curriculum at Avon Middle School addresses stress management, Famiglietti said. School wellness staff members are resources to students, including two guidance councelors, a social worker, a half-time psychologist and health and physical education teachers.

During the middle school’s half-day Friday, students will be watching videos about bullying, peer pressure and alcohol abuse; watching a dance performance that reinforces anti-bullying messages and completing a follow-up activity.

“That is one piece of the entire process,” Famiglietti said. “A one-shot assembly on bullying doesn’t work.”

Under the new legislation, parents and students will have more input on school climate and the process for reporting bullying will be revised.

“All schools will survey parents, students and staff members as to their perception of school climate and whether there’s bullying going on,” Famiglietti said.

While Avon Middle School does ask its students about bullying in its annual survey, that is not the sole focus of the survey, which also asks for feeback on other aspects of the school. Kelley Lanahan created the survey in 2007 when she was computer technical media assistant.

“The state is trying to homogenize the survey so each school district would be giving the same survey,” Famiglietti said, though he noted there is concern about survey questions being misinterpreted if they are not customized by school and district.

When dealing with cases of bullying, Lawson said she often asks the students, “How would you feel?”

“There’s education in all of this,” Lawson said.

Response to a confirmed act of bullying at the middle school is two-pronged, Famiglietti said. In addition to discipline, possible suspensions, community service and occasional referrals to the police if warranted, confirmed bullies typically meet with a councilor for therapy and do reflective writing on what they've done.

But before it comes to that, Lawson and Famiglietti said they hope to create a positive environment where bullying is unlikely to happen in the first place.

“The idea is to really make it a safe school and make bullying unacceptable by peers,” Lawson said. “That’s when we infuse it into the culture.”