Recognizing the importance of educating students on the dangers of bullying and harassment-type behaviors, third-graders at Bellmore’s Winthrop Avenue School participated in a two-day workshop sponsored by Child Abuse Prevention Services (CAPS) of Long Island. The program, entitled “Steer Clear of Bullies,” focused on empowering students to create their own safe environment, teaching them about the various types of bullying, assisting them in recognizing bullying behaviors and actions, and demonstrating how to be an upstander, not a bystander.
    
According to third-grade teacher Lisa Braverman, her class had a head start in learning about bullies and their behaviors when they read “Jake Drake Bully Buster” as a summer reading project. Additionally, her students have been participating in role-playing activities so that they’re familiar with bullying behaviors. “Role-playing is a big part of teaching my students about bullying,” remarked Mrs. Braverman. “It is important that the students get a true understanding of how words do hurt.”
    
Additionally, in order to keep the lines of communication open between the students and her office, Winthrop Principal Sally Curto has been visiting each of the classrooms and hosting a Principal’s Read-A-Loud. During her read-a-louds, Mrs. Curto reads Kathryn Otoshi’s “ONE,” which focuses on taking a stand when witnessing or experiencing something unkind.

"Children need to treat one another with kindness and respect,” explained Mrs. Curto. “As educators, we need to take every opportunity to remind students of this and model it, as well.”