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Building Strong Friendships: A Powerful Way to Prevent Bullying

Helping children develop strong friendship skills is one of the most effective and proactive ways to prevent bullying at school. When students feel connected, included, and supported by their peers, they are less likely to engage in hurtful behavior—and more likely to stand up for what’s right.

Friendship skills are learned just like reading or math, and they grow with practice. These skills include sharing, taking turns, using kind words, showing empathy, listening to others, and solving problems peacefully. When children learn how to work through disagreements, include others in play, and treat one another with respect, they help build a school environment where everyone feels safe and valued.

Positive friendships boost confidence, increase resilience, and promote emotional well-being. Children who feel connected are more likely to ask for help when needed and step in when they see someone else being treated unfairly. Strong friendships create a sense of belonging—an essential ingredient in preventing bullying before it starts.

Families can support friendship-building at home by:

• Encouraging children to talk about their feelings and listen to others

• Praising acts of kindness and cooperation

• Practicing problem-solving and fair play through games and teamwork

• Role-playing how to join a group, make new friends, or handle conflicts respectfully

Together, as a school community, we can help our children grow into kind, confident, and caring friends—creating a school where every student feels welcome and included. Friendship isn’t just important—it’s one of our best tools in preventing bullying and building a positive future for all.

Fall is here, and so is the colder weather!

Please send your child to school with layers of clothing. The weather is getting colder at recess and the building can be warm. Now is a good time to pack a hat and gloves in your child’s backpack to have as an option throughout the fall / winter. We try to hold recess outside as much as possible.

Coat donations

If you have a gently used winter coat that your child has outgrown and you would like to donate to the school, it would be greatly appreciated. We keep a rack of coats available for children to borrow if they forget their coat from home. Please wash before sending. Thank you in advance!

Chapped Lips

With the colder temperatures comes chapped lips. Chapstick / lip balm can be sent in with your child to be kept in their desk or backpack. Please write your child’s initials on the chapstick with a marker. And please remember to send your child with a refillable water bottle every day and encourage hydration to help prevent chapped lips and dry skin with the changing weather.

Please always feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Julie Stiles

SRS School Nurse

Phone: 781-319-3959

Email: jstiles@mpsd.org

Fax: 339-244-2197