October is National Bullying Prevention Month

from pacer.org:

Join the movement!

Communities nationwide are urged to plan for October’s National Bullying Prevention Month and take an active role in the movement against bullying by using PACER resources. PACER has sponsored this event since 2006, when it was a one week event in October and in 2010 evolved to the entire month of October.

During the event—and throughout the year—you are encouraged to use the creative resources here to engage, educate, and inspire others to join the movement.

The major events are:

• Oct. 1, Run, Walk, Roll Against Bullying

  PACER will host the second annual Run, Walk, Roll Against Bullying on Oct. 1 in Minnesota. Outside Minnesota, individuals, schools, businesses, and organizations can host a Run, Walk, Roll Against Bullying event in their communities using PACER’s free toolkit, available at PACER.org/bullying. The toolkit shows how to plan a Run, Walk, Roll in five easy steps and includes tips, ideas, and resources. The Oregon Parent Center, which initiated the idea, and groups in Kentucky, Nebraska, and other states are also hosting this event.

• Oct 12, Unity Day: “Make it Orange and Make it End”

  Join the movement to “Make it orange and make it end!” and unite against bullying. Make your color orange on Unity Day, Wednesday, Oct.  12. That’s the day everyone can link together—in schools, communities and online—and send a message of support to students who have experienced bullying. Students can unite against bullying on Unity Day by wearing the color orange, using the resources on PACER.org/bullying, handing out orange “UNITY” ribbons at school, or writing the word “UNITY” on their hands or binders. Facebook is partnering with PACER by posting information about PACER activities on its safety, educator, and privacy pages during October.

• Oct. 26, Unity Dance Day

  On Wednesday, Oct. 26, people everywhere can come together in song and dance to raise awareness for bullying prevention by organizing a Unity Dance Day. Schools and community organizations can find everything they need to plan a Unity Dance Day in PACER’s online toolkit. The toolkit includes the designated song for the dance, the choreographed dance moves, and additional materials and resources. The toolkit will be made availible in early September

Whether you are an educator, student, family, or individual you can take an active role during the month, other exciting opportunities include:

• Sign up as a National Partner (national organizations) or Champion Against Bullying(schools, local organizations)
• Add your name to the digital “The End of Bullying Begins With Me” petition
• Talk with your local media about bullying prevention and the activities happening in your own community
• Order bullying prevention bookmarks
• Share your story, poem, artwork or video
• Hold a community event
• Tell why “you care about bullying prevention”
• Spread the word on social media
• Use PACER’s creative classroom toolkits to raise awareness
• Visit the ACT section of TeensAgainstBullying

“The culture of bullying won’t end until people across the country take action and show children and teens that they care,” says Julie Hertzog, director of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, which sponsors the month.

“This is a very real and painful issue that kids are facing,” Hertzog says. “But they don’t have to face it alone, and bullying can be prevented if we all work together to change the culture.”

PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center provides creative and interactive resources that are designed to benefit all students, including students with disabilities. Middle and high school students can visit PACERTeensAgainstBullying.org and elementary school students PACERKidsAgainstBullying.org for additional ideas on how they can take action against bullying.v