As part of Global News’ special series on how Montreal-area schools are helping students to deal with bullying, several students have been invited to be a reporter-for-a-day and produce a report on bullying in their schools.
PIERREFONDS – Students at Greendale Elementary School really know how to use their WITS.
A simple acronym for kids to stand up against bullying, WITS stands for “Walk away, Ignore, Talk it out and Seek help.”
The WITS program is a literacy based program to support children who face bullying and peer victimization.
The anti-bullying initiative started in British Columbia over 20 years ago and has since spread across Canada – all the way to Pierrefonds.
POLL: Have you ever been bullied in school?
“It’s a useful memory reminder for the kids on the steps they should take if they encounter any type of bullying,” said Stephen Brayne, Greendale Elementary School principal.
“We were looking around because of the provincial legislation to find a program that would fit our school.”
Although the WITS program only started this year, Brayne has already notived a difference.
“The kids seem more understanding of what bullying is all about and the program is very easy to understand.”
It may be easy to understand because these kids really know how cruel bullying can be.
- Posters promoting ‘Steal From Loblaws Day’ are circulating. How did we get here?
- Video shows Ontario police sharing Trudeau’s location with protester, investigation launched
- Canadian food banks are on the brink: ‘This is not a sustainable situation’
- Solar eclipse eye damage: More than 160 cases reported in Ontario, Quebec
“It’s bad because kids feelings are getting hurt, and it’s not right because you’re just making the other person feel bad,” grade six student Keana James told Global News.
“This is a shoutout for students using their WITS.”
Eric Boisvert was one of those students. He recently witnessed students misbehaving.
“I reacted and used my wits to stop it,” he said.
“If they didn’t, whenever I talked to them, I went and got a teacher.”
The students at Greendale Elementary use their wits in the hallways and classrooms too, and part of the program involves readign books with a bullying theme.
“It’s about filling our buckets by saying good thoughts and nice things to people,” said grade-four teacher Simrin Aulakah.
“We can also empty our buckets by bullying people and being mean to people.”
Ultimately, it’s a lesson on kindness, something all students at Greendale Elementary have learned through their WITS.
Alex O’Neill is a grade six student at Greendale Elementary School.
Comments