What Do You Do When Bullying Happens Outside of School?
Even though bullying may occur off campus—whether online, at the park, or during extracurriculars—it still impacts our school community. Here's how students, parents, and staff can respond:
For Parents:
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Talk openly: Create a safe space where your child feels comfortable sharing. Ask open-ended questions like “What happened next?” and “How did that make you feel?”
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Document everything: Save messages, take screenshots, and record dates and times.
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Inform the school: Even if it didn’t happen on school grounds, counselors and administrators can provide support and monitor for related issues during the school day.
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Contact the police if needed: If there's a threat of violence or harassment, don’t hesitate to involve local law enforcement.
For Students:
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Tell a trusted adult: Whether it’s a parent, teacher, or counselor, don’t keep it to yourself.
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Avoid retaliation: Walk away or block the person online—do not engage further.
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Keep evidence: Save messages or photos that show what’s happening.
For Educators:
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Listen and validate: Take reports seriously and let students know they’re not alone.
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Coordinate with caregivers: Communicate with families to create a consistent support system.
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Watch for spillover: Bullying outside school can lead to anxiety, depression, or behavior changes in the classroom—be observant.
Reminder: BFMS takes bullying seriously—on or off campus. If you or someone you know is being bullied, please report the concern.
School Counseling Services at Bellows Falls Middle School:
Middle school is an exciting and challenging time for students, parents and teachers. As students transform from childhood to adolescence, they develop a need to explore their interests and begin connecting learning in the classroom to life and work. They experience frequent fatigue due to rapid growth. They search for their own identity and begin turning more to peers rather than parents for ideas and affirmation which leads to extreme sensitivity to comments from others.
Bellows Falls Middle School counselors provide a proactive program that engages students, school staff, administration and community/family members in efforts to help students achieve success. We strive for early identification and intervention of academic and social/emotional needs which is essential in removing barriers critical for academic achievement.
Direct student services includes: teaching classroom counseling lesson curriculum focused on Vermont State transferrable skills, and providing professional responsive services such as supporting a student during heightened stress, critical change or other situations impeding student success. School counselors do not provide therapy or long-term counseling in schools; however, school counselors are prepared to recognize and respond to student mental health needs and to assist students and families seeking resources. Indirect student services include: interactions with others including referrals for additional assistance and strategies that support student achievement.
Our school counseling services are in alignment with the American School Counselor Association and the Vermont Department of Education.
The ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors are organized into three broad domains:
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Academic Development – Standards guiding school counseling programs to implement strategies and activities to support and maximize each student’s ability to learn.
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Career Development – Standards guiding school counseling programs to help students understand the connection between school and the world of work.
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Social/Emotional Development – Standards guiding school counseling programs to help students manage emotions and learn and apply interpersonal skills.
