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Counselor's Corner

October is National School Safety Month.  Below are some articles you may find informative.  If you have any questions or concerns, please call me at 970-848-5738, ext. 3029 or email me at sigmonl@yumaschools.org

Riding the Bus

School buses are an exceptionally safe way to travel.  According to The National Safety Council, school buses are the safest form of ground transportation in the United States.

Getting on the school bus

• Pack all belongings securely in a back pack.  This will allow your student to hold onto the safety handrail when s/he enters and exits the bus.
• Make sure your student has plenty of time to get to the bus stop.  This will help prevent your child from running to the bus stop and hurting herself/himself and/or missing the bus.
• Have a safe place to wait for the bus, away from traffic and the street.
• Stay away from the bus until it comes to a complete stop and the driver signals you to enter.
• Review the bus rules with your student.
• When on the bus, find a seat and sit down. Loud talking or other noise can distract the bus driver and is not allowed.
• Never put head, arms or hands out of the window.
• Keep aisles clear -- books or bags are tripping hazards and can block the way in an emergency.

Getting off the school bus

• When being dropped off, exit the bus and walk ten giant steps away from the bus. Inform your student to always keep a safe distance between him/her and the bus. Also, remember that the bus driver can see your student when s/he is backed away from the bus.
• Make sure that the driver can see you.
• Stay away from the bus until the driver gives his/her signal that it's okay to approach.
• When the driver signals, walk across the road, keeping an eye out for sudden traffic changes.
• Do not cross the center line of the road until the driver has signaled that it is safe for you to begin walking.
• Stay away from the bus' rear wheels at all times.
• Be aware of the street traffic around you. Drivers are required to follow certain rules of the road concerning school buses, however, not all do. Protect yourself and watch out!

Walking and Biking to School

Walking to School

Children should always stop at the curb or the edge of the road and look left, then right, and then left again before crossing.

• They should continue looking in this manner until they are safely across.
• If students' vision is blocked by a parked car or other obstacle, they should move out to where drivers can see them and they can see other vehicles -- then stop, and look left-right-left again.
• Mind all traffic signals and/or the crossing guard -- never cross the street against a light, even if you don't see any traffic coming.
• Walk with a buddy.
• Wear reflective material...it makes you more visible to street traffic.

Riding a Bike to School

• Always wear a bike helmet.
• Stop and check traffic before riding into a street.
• Obey traffic signs and signals.
• Ride on the right-hand side of the street.
• Check your brakes before riding.
• Give cars and pedestrians the right-of-way.
• Wear light or bright-colored clothing so motorists can see you.
• Be extra careful turning left - motorists don't expect it.
• Walk your bike through intersections.
• Stay in complete control of your bike.
• Never wear headphones while riding; they impair your ability to hear.

Riding in a Car

• You might have heard before that most traffic crashes occur close to home ... they do.
• Safety belts are the best form of protection passengers have in the event of a crash. They can lower the risk of injury by 45%.
• Be sure that everyone is buckled up properly. That means older kids in seat belts, younger kids in booster seats and little kids in child safety seats.

Backpack Safety

Description

Backpacks are a popular and practical way for children and teenagers to carry schoolbooks and supplies. When used correctly, backpacks can be a good way to carry the necessities of the school day. They are designed to distribute the weight of the load among some of the body's strongest muscles. However backpacks that are too heavy or are worn incorrectly can cause problems for children and teenagers. Improperly used backpacks may injure muscles and joints. This can lead to severe back, neck, and shoulder pain, as well as posture problems. Share these guidelines to help your family use backpacks safely.

Choose the right backpack. Look for the following:

• Wide, padded shoulder straps – Narrow straps can dig into shoulders. This can cause pain and restrict circulation.
• Two shoulder straps – Backpacks with one shoulder strap that runs across the body cannot distribute weight evenly.
• Padded back – A padded back protects against sharp edges on objects inside the pack and increases comfort.
• Waist strap – A waist strap can distribute the weight of a heavy load more evenly.
• Lightweight backpack – The backpack itself should not add much weight to the load.
• Rolling backpack – This type of backpack may be a good choice for students who must tote a heavy load. Remember that rolling backpacks still must be carried up stairs. They may be difficult to roll in snow.

To prevent injury when using a backpack, do the following:

• Always use both shoulder straps. Slinging a backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles. Wearing a backpack on one shoulder may increase curvature of the spine.
• Tighten the straps so that the pack is close to the body. The straps should hold the pack two inches above the waist.
• Pack light. The backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of the student’s total body weight.
• Organize the backpack to use all of its compartments. Pack heavier items closest to the center of the back.
• Stop often at school lockers, if possible. Do not carry all of the books needed for the day.
• Bend using both knees, when you bend down. Do not bend over at the waist when wearing or lifting a heavy backpack.
• Learn back-strengthening exercises to build up the muscles used to carry a backpack. Ask your pediatrician for advice.

Parents also can help in the following ways:

• Encourage your child or teenager to tell you about pain or discomfort that may be caused by a heavy backpack. Do not ignore any back pain in a child or teenager. Ask your pediatrician for advice.
• Talk to the school about lightening the load. Be sure the school allows students to stop at their lockers throughout the day. Team up with other parents to encourage changes.
• Consider buying a second set of textbooks for your student to keep at home.

Bully Prevention

Definition of bullying

Persistent unprovoked attacks against a person without provocation; it can be in many forms such as:

• Name calling
• Saying or writing nasty things to others
• Leaving others out of activities
• Not talking to certain individuals
• Threatening others
• Making others feel uncomfortable or scared
• Taking or damaging others belongings
• Any form of physical abuse
• Making others do things they do not want to do

Why do some people bully?

Bullying is often a cover up to hide the person's own inadequacies and problems in their own life that they cannot deal with. People who bully others generally do so to:

• Avoid facing up to inadequacies in their life and doing something about them.
• Avoid admitting responsibility for their behavior and the effect their behavior has on others.
• Do it to get attention or things or to make other people afraid of them.
• Might be jealous of the person they are bullying.
• They might be being bullied themselves.
• Divert attention away from themselves and their inadequacies.

 What is Bullying and What Can You Do About It?

• If someone in your family is being bullied at school - you have to do something to help: Talk to the teacher, school counselor or principal.
• Support and understanding at home are important in helping people to cope with bullying - do all you can to help children and young people value themselves.
• Children and young people who witness or become aware of bullying may be unsure what to do and whether they should tell someone. Make sure they know that they should talk to a parent or teacher, and why.

The key messages to get across to the person being bullied are:

• It's not your fault that you are being bullied
• You don't have to face this on your own.

Brothers, Sisters and Friends

Brothers, sisters and friends often know that someone is being bullied long before teachers and parents do.

• What should they do? Sometimes the person being bullied asks them not to do anything. Sometimes they do nothing in case the bullies start to pick on them.
• But doing nothing usually means that the bullying carries on, or that the bullies become more confident and choose more victims. Part of the fun that bullies get comes from the reaction of bystanders. If you do nothing the bullies may think that you approve of what they are doing.

Here are some things you can do:

Persuade the person being bullied to talk to an adult - this may be a teacher, school counselor or a parent.

Encourage the person being bullied to talk to you about what is happening.

Offer to speak to an adult on the bullied person's behalf.

Let the bullies know that you are not so frightened of them that you will do nothing and that you are determined to see that they stop.

Involve as many people as possible. In particular try to make sure that teachers know what is going on - but, most of all, talk to somebody.

Here are some things you should not do.

Do not use violence against the bullies - you may end up being accused of being a bully yourself.

Do not tell the person being bullied to deal with the problem on their own - if they could they wouldn't have asked you for help.

Do not try to deal with things on your own

Lara Sigmon
K-8 Counselor
phone: 970-848-5738 ext. 3029
fax: 970-848-5400

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