LT’s Expectations of Respectful Behavior :::

  For additional information about bullying, and how to report bullying, please see this poster.
 
Bullying
Tips for Parents 
 
 
1)       Take the initiative and talk with your child. Ask for specifics and write them down. If your child does not volunteer information easily, ask open-ended questions like “tell me about your day.”
 
2)       If your child gives you indications that s/he is being bullied, believe your child and log the information. Remember to write down where and when it’s happening, who was involved, and the type of bulling that is taking place.
 
3)       When attempting to stop the bullying, please do not do the following:
a.        Confront the bully and or/parents
b.       Ask your child to stand up to the bully by using physical force
c.        Blame your child for being bullied with these sayings;
·         Bullying is part of growing up. It teaches you to deal with life.
·         It is good for you. It toughens you up.
·         Fight your own battles. Don’t tell tales.
·         Ignore it and it will go away. You must be doing something to bring it on yourself.
·         Come on! Stick up for yourself. You won’t always have us around to stick up for you.
·         I was bullied and it never did me any harm.
·         You’ve got to be tough to survive in this world. You’ve got to take care of yourself.
·         I never interfere in difficulties between children. They have to learn to sort out problems between themselves.
·         Boys will be boys! Girls will be girls!
 d. Keep the bullying secret
 
4)   Contact the school immediately. Share your written log of the bullying incidences with the administration.
Assistant Principals:
South Campus:                                                North Campus:
Matt Castle @ (708) 579-6528                        Kris Costopoulos @ (708) 579-6338
mcastle@lths.net                                               kcostopoulos@lths.net
Kelly Dostal @ (708) 579-6528                        Adam Davis @ (708) 579-6330
kdostal@lths.net                                              adavis@lths.net
 
5)  Spend time with your child and encourage him/her to express feelings regarding school. Praise your child for accomplishments and, at the same time, give him/her responsibilities at home.
 
6)  Enroll your child in an extracurricular activity that builds assertiveness, friendship, and social or self-defense skills such as martial arts, an athletic team, club or creative confidence. You can contact your student’s counselor or your town’s Park District.
 
7)  Investigate if your child is more passive or provocative victim. Does your child provoke others when s/he is being bullied? Ask the teacher/administrator for insights and suggestions. What behaviors could your child change that could lesson the odds that your child will be bullied.
 
8)  Discuss that your child’s safety is top priority and that if your child is threatened, give up any possessions and tell an adult. If the adult does not react, the child should keep a log and then tell the same adult or another adult until someone takes appropriate action.
 
How can I tell if my child is being bullied?
 
Your child may be the victim of bullying if he or she:
  • comes home from school with torn or dirty clothing, or damaged books;
  • has cuts, bruises or scratches;
  • has few, if any friends to play with;
  • seems afraid to go to school, or complains of headaches or stomach pains;
  • doesn’t sleep well or has bad dreams;
  • loses interest in schoolwork;
  • seems sad, depressed or moody;
  • is anxious or has poor self-esteem; and/or
  • is quiet, sensitive or passive.
 
If your child shows several of these warning signs, it’s possible he or she is being bullied. You may want to talk with your child to find out what is troubling him or her. If problems persist contact one of the school’s administrators as shown above.
 
How can I tell if my child is bullying others?
 
Your child may be bullying others if he or she:
  • teases, threatens or kicks other children;
  • is hot-tempered or impulsive, or has a hard time following rules;
  • is aggressive toward adults;
  • is tough or shows no sympathy for children who are bullied; and/or
  • has been involved in other antisocial behavior, such as vandalism or theft.
 
If your child shows several of these warning signs, it’s possible that he or she is bullying others. You may want to spend some extra time talking with your child about his or her behavior. If you continue to be concerned about your child’s behavior, contact one of the administrators listed above. There are resources to help your child acknowledge his/her behavior and make the necessary changes.