LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Walking away, ignoring, talking it out and seeking help: these are the four core principles of the WITS program students at Bompas Elementary School are learning.

Bompas Elementary School had a schoolwide anti-bullying assembly on Nov. 13. Here, students learn how to properly salute like an RCMP officer. - April Hudson/NNSL photo

The WITS acronym derives its name from the first letter of each step as an easy way for young children to remember what to do if they are being bullied.

With the help of Const. Adam Robar, village bylaw officer Keyna Norwegian, Open Doors staff member Alex Roche and District Education Authority member Stephanie Cudmore, students learned how to resolve altercations with each other during a schoolwide assembly on Nov. 13.

Roche told students a story called The Walrus's Gift, by H.E. Stewart, which follows a young boy who is being left out and teased by others. A little walrus boy befriends him with the help of his elders and other animals in order to make him happy.

Roche encouraged students to reach out when they see someone who is sad and be their friend.

Following the story, Robar showed students how to salute properly and passed out little badges with WITS written on them.

He and Cudmore also helped students recite the pledge: "To use our WITS to keep our school and our community safe and a fun place to be and learn."

Classes 4, 5 and 6 were introduced to the LEADS program (look and listen, explore points of view, act, did it work and seek help) which provides tools to confront bullies.

Cudmore said it is important to try to resolve a conflict before bringing in other people.

"We're going to ask them, how do you think that makes that person feel? How would you feel if I said that to you because I'm bigger than you? And we'll see if they can understand how the person they're bullying is feeling," she said.

The assembly ended with a skit between Robar and student Cadence Erasmus, who played the part of a student being bullied.

Robar pretended to tease her about her hair, leading to the two engaging in a tug-of-war with a rope, which represented Erasmus' rights.

"This is her right to feel safe and not come to school and be bullied every day," Cudmore said.

When Erasmus could not pull the rope, she called for help from her friends and instructors.

"Her teachers can help, and so can other adults in the community. She can ask her fellow students for help, too," Cudmore said.

"This is what we need to do. (The older children) need to be available to the younger children who are being bullied at the school, who are trying to get their rights but are looking for help. They can step in and help them."

In the end, with a joint effort, Erasmus successfully won the tug-of-war against Robar, symbolically reclaiming her right to a safe school.

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