EJHS Parents and Students,  

As is typical by this time in the school year, we are beginning to see behaviors that we refer 
to as "drama" or in some cases bullying in the Junior High.  We feel, as educators, that it falls 
upon us to help guide our students in how to effectively learn to deal with these negative behaviors 
and handle them in a positive manner, instead of being "caught up" in the action.  Please encourage 
your child to report acts of bullying to an adult in our school and work with them on how to handle 
such things as gossip and "drama" with other students.  There are many steps that we can take as 
educators to help you in this process without disrupting your child's educational process.  Please 
feel free to communicate with school officials if you have questions or concerns involving your child.  
Many times these acts are not reported by students for fear of being a "tattle tail" or a "narc".  This is 
never the answer...we take precautions to protect each child that comes to us with their concerns.  
Take time today to work with your child on how to effectively deal with those tough situations that will 
arise in these awkward middle school years.  Please see the tips below offered by the website "About.com" 
for tweens and parents.  Please let us know if we can assist you or your child in any way.

Middle school can be a lot of fun in many ways. Middle schoolers are learning independence, 
developing new skills and making new friends. Unfortunately, middle school is also drama central. 
There's a lot of drama happening in middle school, from gossiping to arguments to bullying. And 
now that your child is in middle school, there's no escaping it.

But you can help your child minimize school drama with a few quick tips. Teaching her how to 
avoid or minimize school drama will help your child, not only in middle school, but in high school, 
college and beyond.

How to Avoid Middle School Drama

Choose Friends Carefully: It's hard to tell a child who just wants to be accepted by her peers to choose 

her friends carefully, but it is important to point out what makes a great friend. Encourage your child to 

 

develop 

friendships with people who have similar interests and who refrain from gossip and drama. 

Point 

out how a frenemy can be harmful and make life miserable. If your child has great friendships, gossip and drama will be minimal.

Don't Gossip: Gossip is the root of all school drama, and by avoiding it your child may steer clear of a lot of unnecessary drama. Encourage her to say NO to gossip and to resist the urge to pass it along.

Minimize Your Online Presence: A lot of the school drama that happens today begins on Facebook, Twitter or via email or texts. It's a lot to ask, but if your child waits a few years to open a Facebook account, the benefits will probably outweigh the negatives. If you can't convince your child to steer clear of Facebook, write a social networking contract that your tween has to sign. The contract will detail what behavior is and is not allowed online.

Shrug it Off: Let's face it, middle school can get ugly and so can the behavior of peers and even good friends. While your child may feel slighted by or upset over the behavior of a friend, it might make more sense to help her learn how to shrug it off, rather than make a big deal over the incident. Tweens have a habit of making a big deal over trivial things. Help your child recognize the difference between an incident that requires follow-up and one that should just be forgotten or ignored.

Keep it to Yourself: You want your child to confide in friends when she needs to, but it's also important for a tween or teen to know when to keep private information private. This is a hard lesson for some to learn, and many learn it the hard way. The bottom line: if you don't want everyone to know about something, it's best not to tell anyone, or to only tell a close friend whom you know is reliable and will keep your secrets. On the flip side, your child should also understand that when a friend confides in her, she's not to spread the information around. The exception is when a friend might be in a troubling situation, and then it might be wise to tell a trusted adult.

Be Honest: Drama often starts with a lie. Even little white lies can cause a lot of trouble. If your child tells her friend that she can't spend the night because she's sick, but really she's hanging out with another friend, that's the beginning of trouble. Encourage your tween to be honest with her friends, and to avoid those little white lies. They may seem like a good idea at the time, but they can end friendships and start a lot of trouble.