PLEDGE FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS

The STAMP program has been developed to deal with meanness that occurs in and

around school. Meanness has been around forever and is not limited to middle

school students. While it is impossible to eliminate meanness in the world

altogether, there are certainly more people who aren’t mean than those who are.

If, though, we follow one simple rule, “Treat others the way that you wish to be

treated (not necessarily the way they treat you)”, we can make our school a better

place for everyone and free from meanness.

FOR STUDENTS:

1. I understand that meanness is a behavior. I understand that meanness is a choice.

I will not knowingly engage in any mean behaviors (see What is Meanness attached)

in or out of school.

2. I will treat others the way I wish to be treated, regardless of how they treat me.

3. I understand that we can stop meanness if we stand together, therefore I:

a. Will not engage in gossip, rumor spreading or mean talk– if someone is trying

to talk like this with me, I will find a way to end the conversation. I will not

respond to mean text or instant messages about others.

b. Not allow others to engage me in excluding others – if someone tries to exclude someone from my group of friends,

     I will not go along with it.

c. Will encourage others to deal with meanness, whether on their own or with the

help of an adult.

d. Will let an adult know immediately if I see someone being physically threatened or harmed.

e. Will stand together with anyone I see being the target of meanness. I will stand

quietly next to or behind the person being targeted. I will not be physically or

verbally confrontational and will not answer any taunts. I will encourage my

friends to stand with me as I do this.

4. If I experience meanness, I will follow the appropriate steps to deal with it, including

talking to the person one-on-one in order to let them know that I want the meanness

to stop. I will not answer meanness with more meanness.

5. I understand that by signing this contract, I will be eligible for everything associated with

the STAMP program. With this, however, I understand that if I violate my pledge

against meanness, I am subject to removal from the STAMP program.

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FOR PARENTS:

6. I understand that meanness is a behavior. I understand that meanness is a choice. I understand that meanness often occurs at home as well as at school. I will set a good

example in my own behaviors and will hold my son or daughter accountable for

meanness at school as well as at home.

7. I understand that while it is difficult to see a child experiencing meanness, he/she is best capable of stopping these behaviors in the long run. I will encourage him/her to follow

the STAMP guidelines for dealing with meanness. I will encourage him/her to deal with meanness right away instead of letting it linger to the point of complete anger and

frustration. I will contact the school in a timely fashion to ask for the school’s help in

assisting my child as he or she deals with meanness.

8. I understand that by signing this contract, my child will be eligible for everything

associated with the STAMP program. With this, however, I understand that if he/she

knowingly violates the pledge against meanness, he/she will be subject to removal from the STAMP program.

I/We have read all aspects of the STAMP program. I/We are supportive of the effort

to eliminate meanness by standing together as a school. By signing below, I/we

agree with all of the provisions of this pledge to stand together against meanness

and look forward to making a positive difference in how people are treated.

_________________________ __________________________ _______ _________

student name student signature date locker number

______________________________ ______________________________ __________

parent name parent signature date

______________________________ ______________________________ __________

parent name (if applicable) parent signature (if applicable) date

q I grant approval for my child’s name OR photograph to appear on the STAMP webpage (housed on

the district’s website). I understand that the name and photograph will not appear together.

______________________________ ______________________________ __________

principal name principal signature date

Meanness is a behavior. Meanness is something you choose to do.

Meanness is something we can stop if we all STAND TOGETHER.