Heads Up Anti-Bullying Program

 The "Heads Up" program is a ten week comprehensive early intervention program developed by VOWSspecifically for second-grade students in the Warwick Public Schools.  It aims to address thesignificant issues of bullying and violence that are prevalent in schools, homes, and playgrounds. The program was created in response to the growing problem of bullying and is designed to provide age-appropriate lessons on self-awareness, conflict resolution, cultural sensitivity, and violence and bullying prevention.

 Mr. John Mattson, an expert in the field, has developed the curriculum for the "Heads Up" program.  The curriculum is research-driven and based on well-established educational principles. It consists often core activities, each lasting for half an hour, which are presented one lesson per week throughout  the ten-week program. The day of the week on which the lessons are presented varies depending on the individual elementary school's schedule.

The program begins with the "Peaceable Being" activity, where children create a Peaceable Being to signify the acceptable behaviors for the program.  This serves as a contract, with words written inside the outline of the being representing acceptable behaviors, and words written outside representing unacceptable behavior in the group setting.

Throughout the program, students engage in a variety of activities aimed at fostering positive
behavior and conflict resolution skills.  They explore their similarities and differences in the "Pick
Your Corner" activity, learn to understand others' points of view through storybooks, and create
Peace Puppets to act out conflict resolution strategies.

Overall, the "Heads Up" program is a well-structured and comprehensive initiative that addresses bullying and violence prevention among second-grade students in the Warwick Public Schools.  It aims to create a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment by equipping children with the necessary skills and understanding to resolve conflicts, foster empathy, and promote positive behavior.

Have a question or want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you. Contact us today and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. Nicole.Spirito@warwickschools.org Anne.Goldman@warwickschools.org