AUGUSTA PREP IMPLEMENTING BULLYING PREVENTION PROGRAM
In an effort to continue to live up to the Augusta Prep mission to be a welcoming community, the school is implementing the Olweus (pronounced Ol-Vay-Us) Bullying Prevention Program over the course of the 2019-20 school year. All faculty and staff members are in the process of undergoing training as part of the program implementation. Many Augusta Prep employees attended an all-day training session during pre-planning in early August.
Olweus is "a research-based bullying prevention and intervention program, which supports whole student success by reducing bullying through systemic change to improve school climate." Later in the school year, staff members will engage with students intentionally through class meetings and advisory meetings in improving their social and emotional skills using Olweus resources that are age-appropriate for each division.
Augusta Prep is the only Augusta-area independent school - and only school in Richmond or Columbia counties - to implement the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. Augusta Prep Director of Guidance Lollie Becton (PhD) is a certified Olweus trainer-consultant working with coordinating committees from the Lower, Middle and Upper School.
Earlier this week, two Olweus Bullying Prevention Parent Information sessions were held on campus. If you would like to learn more about the Olweus program, contact Lollie Becton.