Bullying Prevention
General Information:
The US Department of Health and Human Services has explained bullying as “aggressive behavior that is intentional and that involves an imbalance of power or strength. A child who is being bullied has a hard time defending himself or herself. Usually, bullying is repeated over time. Bullying can take many forms, such as hitting or punching (physical bullying); teasing or name-calling (verbal bullying); intimidation using gestures or social exclusion (nonverbal bullying or emotional bullying), and sending insulting messages by phone or computer e-mail (cyberbullying).”
Bullying is a serious issue and should be addressed immediately. If you discover a bullying situation, please speak up and contact your teacher or school principal right away. This is very important so that steps can be taken to protect someone who is being bullied by keeping them safe and getting them the help they need.
Bullying Warning Signs/Tips.pdf
Web-Based Resources:
You can find some detailed information for helping and supporting someone who is dealing with bullying here:
The Born This Way Foundation is a movement started by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, to empower youth to create a kinder and braver world.
Provides tips directly to a child/early adolescent audience to keep them safe at home, in the community, at school and on the Internet. Includes the topics of bullying and peer pressure.
Pacer's National Bullying Prevention Center
Features information and resources for children, teens, parents and educators around bullying topics with a particular focus on students with disabilities. The additional website Teensagainstbullying.org is designed for kids by kids and feature videos and art, games and activities, and developmentally appropriate information for kids about bullying.
PREVNet (Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence)
A network of researchers, organizations, and governments committed to stopping bullying. Features research-based strategies for parents, students, educators, and community members to prevent bullying and promote relationships. Provides downloadable, easily accessible handouts, manuals, and research summaries.
Stand for the Silent is dedicated to reducing bullying and provides programs for schools on how to reduce bullying.
StopBullying.gov provides information from various government agencies on how kids, teens, young adults, parents, educators and others in the community can prevent or stop bullying.
A bullying prevention and intervention curriculum that includes film-based educational resources.
Submit the Documentary is an informative film that illustrates the serious social phenomenon of cyberbullying confronting our children and their well-being. It features interviews from affected teens, parents of victims, educators, experts and law enforcement as they tackle this worldwide issue, while offering solutions to this complicated problem. The ultimate goal of the documentary and website is to become the center of education on cyberbullying awareness, support and solutions.
The Bully Project is the website for the movie Bully, released in 2012. Resources can be found on the website to help parents and teachers foster discussion about the movie with their children and students.
The Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility
Fosters social and emotional learning in schools by supporting an array of school-based programs. Features descriptions of social and emotional programs that promote conflict resolution and intercultural understanding. Sister site offers free lessons and activities for teachers to promote social and emotional learning.
US DOE Safe and Supportive Schools
Provides tools and manuals, research briefs, and additional readings about topics within the broad areas of school engagement, environment, and safety. The “School Climate Measurement” portion of the website features a school climate measurement tool compendium.
Phone Numbers:
If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis and in need of immediate support, you can access emergency help in these ways:
Through Loudoun County Mental Health Emergency Services, help is available 24 hours, 7 days a week for youth who are experiencing immediate and severe emotional crises at 703-777-0320. Non-emergency appointments can be made at 703-771-5100.
In an emergency, call 911 and ask for a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Deputy. Also, there is free, confidential 24/7 support available:
PRS CrisisLink: 703-527-4077 or text "CONNECT" to 855-11
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (8255)
SAMHSA National Helpline: 800-662-HELP (4357)
Children's Regional Crisis Response (CR2): 844-NCrisis (627-4747) in English and EspanolHopeline: Chat here or call 800-784-2433
Briar Woods High School Bullying Prevention Coordinator(s):
Mr. Nicholas Snead, Assistant Principal (Email)
Mr. Jessie Green, Director of School Counseling (Email)