• 🛑 Stop – Walk – Talk: A Strategy to Take a Stand Against Bullying

    Be an Upstander, Not a Bystander
     Help create a safe and respectful school community.

    ✋ STOP

    Use words to let the person know their behavior is not okay.
     Say something calm but firm, like:

    • “Please stop.”
    • “That’s not cool.”
    • “Hey, that’s enough.”

    Tip: Help your students come up with their own “Bully Ban” phrases and role-play at home.

    🚶 WALK

    🚪 If the behavior continues, walk away.

    • Go to the nearest adult or safe space.
    • Stick with friends when walking through common bullying areas.
    • Avoid being alone in places where bullying happens.

    🗣️ TALK

    Tell a trusted adult what happened.

    • Report it!  Talk to a teacher, social worker, parent, or principal.
    • If you're feeling anxious or upset, talk it through with your school’s Social Worker. 

    🤝 Before, During & After Bullying – How You Can Help

    👀 Before

    • Walk with students who are often left out.
    • Invite others to join in and feel included. 
    • Don’t spread gossip or share hurtful posts.

    🛑 During

    • Don’t laugh or encourage bullying.
    • If safe, speak up or tell the person to stop.
    •  Find a nearby adult for help.

    💬 After

    • Show kindness to the person who was bullied.
    • Let them know you care and they’re not alone. 
    • Report the incident through proper channels.

    🚦 Stop-Walk-Talk: Bully Prevention at WESD

    Stop-Walk-Talk is a district-wide strategy for all students in WESD to help them respond to bullying in safe, respectful ways.

    What Counts as Bullying?

    Staff work with students to understand the difference between everyday conflicts and bullying.

    • Not Bullying: Accidental bumps, a polite "no," or one-time disagreements.
    • Bullying: Repeated teasing, physical contact like pushing, or purposely excluding someone.

    🛑 STOP

    Students learn to firmly say “Stop” or use a hand signal when they or someone else is being mistreated.
     The student receiving the signal should stop immediately—even if they disagree—take a deep breath, count to three, and continue their day respectfully.

    🚶 WALK

    If the behavior continues, students are taught to walk away or ignore the behavior if walking away isn't possible (like on the bus). This helps de-escalate the situation safely.

    🗣️ TALK

    If “Stop” and “Walk” don’t work, students should talk to an adult.
     Staff will:

    • Address the behavior of the other students and reinforce expectations.
    • Notify parents if the behavior continues.

    🚨 Safety First

    If a student is in danger (e.g., fighting, injury), they are taught to skip the steps and get help from an adult immediately.

    By teaching Stop-Walk-Talk, we empower students to advocate for themselves and help build a safe, respectful school community.