Internal & External Announcements

To gain support from professionals, parents, and other stakeholders, consider making internal and external announcements about your school’s decision to join Step Up. Step In. 

Internal: Teachers & Staff

  • An email to teachers and staff from a principal or other administrator announcing the decision to become a Step Up. Step In. school can generate interest and excitement
  • An FAQ answers preliminary questions about the campaign.
  • A single point of contact (likely your Step Up. Step In. Ambassador) makes it easy for teachers and staff to ask questions.
  • Addressing the school’s participation in a staff meeting, for example, allows for two-way communication about the campaign.

External: Parents and Community

  • An email or letter to parents from a principal or administrator announcing the decision to become a Step Up. Step In. school helps adults understand the issue.
  • An FAQ answers parents’ preliminary questions about the campaign.
  • Providing parents with a single point of contact like your Step Up. Step In. Ambassador makes it easy for them to ask questions.
  • Consider posting the letter to parents on your website – including the FAQ and Step Up. Step In. logo can help answer questions and address any concerns.
  • Sending a press release to your local newspaper about your school’s participation in the program lets the community know you are committed to this issue.
  • Posting social media announcements to your school’s Facebook and Twitter reaches students and the community.

School Assembly & Rally

Set the stage for a school that is free from sexual bullying! Assemble students to arm them with the knowledge and skills they need to stop sexual bullying – and how to react if it happens to them or a classmate.

A sample program agenda gives guidance on how you may want to structure your assembly – along with prepared speaker’s remarks and a customizable presentation – that will help you introduce Step Up. Step In. to your school. You may also want to consider the following ideas:

  • Limit the program to one hour to keep students’ attention.
  • Ask administrators to participate to demonstrate support.
  • The main speaker should be one who connects to students and captures their attention – this may be a teacher, another professional within the school, or an invited guest.
  • Look for safe ways to open up dialogue with students – such as an anonymous Q&A where students can submit written questions and the speaker answer those questions from the stage. Anonymity is key to encouraging student participation.
  • Use age-appropriate popular music to open and close the assembly – to start and close the program on an energetic foot.
  • Ask teachers to participate in a skit that shows students how to stop sexual bullying. The content/message of the teacher’s skit can be unique to the most common problems your school faces.

Close the assembly with a Call to Action that encourages your students to sign a Step Up. Step In. Pledge, where they commit to stopping sexual bullying – and to helping others who are victimized by it.