by Samantha Libraty
Over the summer, a group of faculty members revised the anti-bullying curriculum, which was implemented at this school last year, according to Beals housemaster Michelle Stauss.
Stauss said, “We revised the lessons based on faculty and student feedback. We aim to engage students in authentic discussions about scenarios that have happened in Newton or at this school and other scenarios that could happen at this school or virtually anywhere.”

“An Act Relative to Bullying in Schools” is a Massachusetts law, enacted last year, which states that schools are required to implement an anti-bullying curriculum to all students incorporating research-based lessons.

The curriculum is split by grade level, Stauss said. The freshman class will begin the ninth grade curriculum, while the other grades will begin the tenth grade curriculum.
There will be five lessons presented to students from September to February. Tuesday, Sept. 4 through Friday, Sept. 7 will include the first lesson of the anti-bullying curriculum. The second lesson will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 30. Half-day Thursday, Dec. 6 will be the third lesson. The fourth lesson will be on an undecided date in January. The final and fifth lesson will be on half-day Thursday, Feb. 7.
“To tap our students’ input, ideas and experience, we are planning that our final lesson of the year will be created by our students for our students,” Stauss said.
Adams housemaster Dave Turcotte said, “The curriculum is still a work in progress, but it is definitely a step in the right direction after we got feedback from last year’s curriculum.”