Dear Rivermont Community, 

It is near impossible to go a few days without hearing about bullying.  It is a problem that touches everyone's life in some form or another.  No one is immune.  Rivermont strives to advance the Intellect, Character, and Creativity of each of its students and bullying works against that.   I have asked Jim Bisenius to come to campus and present his innovative program that teaches kids exactly what to do when someone picks on them.   I met Jim at a recent ISACS conference and was impressed with his candor, humor, and common sense. 

Bully-Proofing Youth is an effective bullying prevention program designed for children grades K-12.  It teaches students what kids who target look for in those they pick on and how to stop giving those reactions. Through assemblies, workshops, and group trainings, Jim Bisenius instructs students, teachers, and parents in ways to eliminate bullying in an entertaining and interactive manner using humor, drawings, story-telling, and role-playing.

Jim Bisenius has sixteen years of experience as a child and adolescent therapist.  He has developed techniques that have been nationally recognized as extremely effective at stopping the dance between kids who bully and those they target.  Jim has taught his methods to over 450 schools nationally, many within our own independent school association (ISACS).  All of these trainings were promoted strictly through word of mouth.  Mr. Bisenius earned his Bachelor's Degree from Miami University and his Master's Degree from Ohio State University.  He received a "Child Advocate of the Year" award from the Knox County Community, as well as a "Violence Prevention Award" from the Licking County Mental Health Association.  

Jim will lead sessions with students in Kindergarten through twelfth grade and a special session with faculty.  Almost all students who target others are also victims of bullying somewhere else in their lives.  The techniques taught are important for both those who target and those being targeted.  Students will learn to identify what students who target look for in victims and how to alter body-language and reactions to eliminate future bullying, as well as specifically what to do if they are being physically bullied.  Students who are 3rd grade and older will learn how "popular" bullies isolate, control, and manipulate peers and what steps they must take to stop them.

In addition, Jim will lead a 90 minute presentation for Rivermont parents.  This training will cover how to teach your child to respond to verbal bullying, physical bullying, social bullying, and group manipulation.  Parents will walk away with concrete tools they can implement and help their child master.  Parents will learn how "popular" bullies isolate, control, and manipulate peers and steps their son or daughter must take to stop them.  Parents are also able to use these techniques in their own life to deal with controlling or intimidating adults.  

This is an important opportunity and I hope that at least one parent from each family will be able to attend the parent session on Monday, March 5 from 6:00-7:30 PM.  A light supper will be served from 5:30-6:00 PM to make everyone's evening a little simpler.  The parent session is intended for adults only and there will be no child care provided.

Please mark your calendars today and be sure to join your fellow Rivermont parents on Monday, March 5 from 6:00-7:30 PM for a provocative evening.  Feel free to invite friends, relatives, and potential Rivermont parents.

Best,

Rick St. Laurent

Headmaster