# Choose Kindness

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. It is a time for us to highlight what it means to be kind and to stand up against mean,  bullying behaviors.
Last week I learned something that not only surprised me but saddened me deeply.  There is a free APP called "After School" ... something I think was developed to help students - however, it is doing just the opposite. A student uses this app to make ANONYMOUS posts or comments to students attending their school. Seemingly harmless, no? Well, I learned that LOLHS students are posting unkind, mean  comments about their peers!


I have spoken to  administrators in other schools dealing with the same problem. We can't stop it but we can certainly inform you of it. Ask your son or daughter to see if they have it on their phone. Ask how they use it. Ask to see it.

Taking a stand against bullying and showing support is the action one can take. Last week, a day after I learned of the app, I had two students contact me wanting to start their own Kindness Campaign. Instead of posting on line comments, they created a space in the halls of LOLHS to post positive, kind  comments to their peers in school using stickies! How cool is that?! Choose Kindness is all about doing the right thing.

Today's advisory will be focusing on BEING KIND. Students will talk about this new app and create 'wildcat paw' cards to pass on the kindness... ask them about it!

Some Resources for choosing kind / anti-bullying:
Choose Kindness Video link :
Choose Kindness Bullying Prevention Campaign 2016 video.
(public service campaign)

The 'Witness' emoji: Taking a stand against bullying and showing support to someone in need can be as easy as a stroke of the keyboard. Have you ever seen someone getting bullied and wished you could say a magic word that could make the bullying stop? Well now you can, with the downloadable "I Am A Witness" Keyboard. When you see bullying online, you can use the Witness emoji to show that you're against cyber-bullying and show support for someone who is being bullied by posting it online or through a text message.

Be Inspired! :
Disney's Be Inspired website will include information and resources designed to help children, tweens and parents prevent bullying.

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