Lago Vista ISD | Bullying Prevention

Lago Vista ISD
Academics & Student Services

Bullying Prevention

Bullying can threaten students’ physical and emotional safety at school and can negatively impact their ability to learn. The best way to address bullying is to stop it before it starts. Lago Vista ISD is committed to preventing bullying through creating a culture of caring and by educating students. Parents, school staff, and other caring adults also have a role to play in preventing bullying. We can:

Help kids understand bullying. Talk about what bullying is and how to stand up to it safely. Tell kids bullying is unacceptable. Make sure kids know how to get help.
Keep the lines of communication open. Check in with kids often. Listen to them. Know their friends, ask about school, and understand their concerns.
Encourage kids to do what they love. Special activities, interests, and hobbies can boost confidence, help kids make friends, and protect them from bullying behavior.
Model how to treat others with kindness and respect.

To help build a student culture of caring and respect, the District also uses the Committee for Children's Second Step bullying prevention curriculum.

How to Report Bullying or Other Safety Concerns

We are proud to announce our partnership with Lightspeed STOPit, a nationally recognized leader in school safety and wellness.

Through this partnership, everyone in our school community has access to the Lightspeed STOPit anonymous reporting app – a powerful tool designed to deter and promptly address instances of bullying, school violence, self-harm, and inappropriate behaviors.

With the Lightspeed STOPit app, users can anonymously submit tips, attach photo or video evidence, and privately message school leaders with the necessary information to help everyone involved.

In addition, when a student or anyone in our school community needs immediate support, the Lightspeed STOPit app provides direct access to Crisis Text Line. Users can anonymously text with counselors (day or night) until they feel safe and calm.

We encourage everyone in our school community to download the Lightspeed STOPit app.

If you haven’t already done so, we kindly urge parents and guardians to download the Lightspeed STOPit app and become familiar with its features. This will not only enable you to guide your children in using the app but will also demonstrate our collective commitment to the safety and wellbeing of our whole school community. The Lightspeed STOPit app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Project Vinátta

Lago Vista ISD is extremely proud of our District-wide No Place for Hate^® initiative, Project Vinátta. The No Place for Hate^® initiative from the Anti-Defamation League provides schools and communities with an organizing framework for combating bias, bullying, and hatred, leading to long-term solutions for creating and maintaining a positive climate.

All campuses in Lago Vista ISD have earned the No Place for Hate^®designation every year since beginning during the 2017-2018 school year.

WatchDOGS Program

WatchDOGS (Dads Of Great Students) is an innovative educational initiative to promote father involvement in schools. There are two primary goals of the WatchDOGS program.

To provide positive male role models for the students, demonstrating by their presence that education is important.
To provide extra sets of eyes and ears to enhance school security and reduce bullying.

WatchDOGS are fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other father-figures who volunteer during the day at Lago Vista Elementary School. WatchDOGS may read and work on flash cards with students, play at recess, eat lunch with students, watch the school entrances and hallways, assist with traffic flow, and any other assigned activities where they actively engage with students.

How do I get involved?
To become a WatchDOGS participant or learn more information about the program, please contact Mrs. Chelsea Murphy at cmurphy@lagovistaisd.net.

Additional Information

Resources

Lago Vista ISD WatchDOGS Guidelines & Registration Form
National Bullying Prevention Center - PACER Center

StopBullying.gov
STOPit
Back-to-School Safety Tips Every Parent Should Know

Questions?

Contact your students Campus Behavior Coordinator.