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In an effort to curb high student suspension rates in Pajaro Valley schools, “Rock On With Our School, Where Following the Rules Is Cool,” an assembly that uses music and humor to show the importance of following school rules and dealing with bullying, is being taken to the schools.
“As part of our mission, we’re trying to communicate to parents and students the importance of following the rules, and to make it part of the school culture that it’s not OK to misbehave,” said Leticia Gomez, prevention program manger for the Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS) project in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District.
“Not all students learn the same,” she said, “so this program uses music and visual retention ideas to get across a positive message that it’s both fun and cool to follow the rules. The students have been really enthusiastic at the schools where we’ve done it so far.”
The 45-minute program, presented at school assemblies, was developed by SS/HS staffer and social marketer Janell Coburn, social who came up with concept and developed the educational materials, including a song called “Rock On.” Performers Richard Salazar and Patti Maxine recorded the song along with students, and a karaoke version is used in the assemblies, involving students, faculty and administrators in the presentation, which features local performers Jeff Caplan and Carolyn Martin.
“The songs and presentations get the students singing and involved in the performance,” Gomez said. “Teachers are given CD’s and printed materials that they can use in the classroom to reinforce the message.”
Promoting awareness of school rules is a key element of developing a safe school environment, she said. In some cases, students could get in trouble by not knowing the rules — for example by bringing a small pocket knife on campus. In other cases, students need to know what to do if they see a violation of rules or a student encouraging a rule violation.
The “Rock On” campaign stresses five simple themes for students to follow and amplifies the themes with examples. The five themes are: Be Respectful, Be Kind, Be Safe, Be Healthy, and Be Responsible.”
Under the heading of “Be Healthy,” for instance, students are reminded that they should not bring alcohol, tobacco or drugs on campus or use those substances off it. They are also told not to bring soda or candy to school.
Another key element of the campaign and something stressed in the assemblies is bullying prevention. Bullying accounts for a high percentage of disciplinary problems at schools.
The program reminds students that bullying involves not only physical violence but indirect bullying as well. This can include such actions as exclusion from groups, name-calling, spreading rumors and cyber-bullying. Role-playing sessions bring students from the audience to the stage to dramatize how to effectively confront and deal with bullying behavior.
“Bullying prevention is a big push of the Safe Schools/Healthy Students program,” Gomez said. “We want to create awareness of the problem, show students how to deal with it, and remind them that there will be consequences if they participate in bullying behavior.”
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