Sakai Intermediate School is a dynamic, caring community of 5th and 6th grade students. We are a school that focuses on high academic achievement and expectations, as well as the development of social and emotional intelligence skills.  Our staff and students are dedicated to a positive and supportive school climate.   We like to think that you can feel this positive energy as you enter our school.

In the Behavior and Climate section of this website, you will find information about our school and how we foster a caring environment and work to prevent bullying. As you explore this section, you will learn that we are not a school with a high percentage of bullying incidents.  You will also learn that we do have a defined system for handling the incidents that do occur.

The key however, as previously mentioned, is bullying prevention.  We have a school-wide program that helps build skills in students that will serve them well throughout their education, and in our community.  We call this program COHO Time.  The coho salmon is our school mascot. We have a small annual migration of coho to the stream that runs behind our school.

COHO Time is a dedicated period each Monday where all of Sakai is involved in team-building, bullying prevention, building social skills and community service.  While it is based in Homerooms, all staff members participate: there are at least two adults in each classroom taking part in the lessons with the students. 

Sakai’s school-wide effort is an outgrowth of our recognition that Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) can have a positive impact on student’s academic performance and success in life. It is an important developmental task of 5th and 6th graders to develop skills for positive social interaction.  This includes building skills in self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. COHO Time is an opportunity to intentionally promote friendship and empathy skills in our students. We help students understand the difference between everyday conflict and unacceptable behavior. Students discuss and practice strategies for solving conflict and dealing with challenges in life.

We also make sure that students understand the definition of bullying -- when someone repeatedly and on purpose says or does mean or hurtful things to another person who has a hard time defending him or herself -- and why it is harmful. Our lessons stress, and then practice, reporting bullying. We also develop students’ skills for coping with bullying if it does happen. All Sakai students learn and commit to follow four anti-bullying rules:

1. We will not bully others.
2. We will try to help students who are bullied.
3. We will try to include students who are left out.
4. If we know that somebody is being bullied, we will tell an adult at school and an adult at home.

We hope you will assist us in developing the social skills of our 5th and 6th graders! Ask your student about what they are doing in COHO Time. Check if they know and are following the anti-bullying rules. Encourage them, if they have been the target of bullying or seen others targeted, to report such instances to their teachers, Principal, Assistant Principal or Counselors.  You may volunteer at school and at lunchtime, so you can help promote a positive atmosphere for all kids!

Harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) are unacceptable at Sakai.

Under State law, HIB consists of any verbal, written (including an image) or physical act which:

• Physically harms a student or damages the student’s property;
• Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s education;
• Is so severe, persistent or pervasive that it creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment; or
• Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school.

Such acts include those that are electronically transmitted, and specifically include, but are not limited to, acts motivated by race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, mental or physical disability or other distinguishing characteristics.

At the intermediate school level, bullying usually shows up as repeated negative behavior toward a less powerful person or persons. Hitting, name-calling, shunning, and shaming are all forms of bullying. Spreading rumors, gossiping and making threats are also forms of bullying. Another related form of bullying is retaliation, or negative behavior against a person or persons whom a student believes reported bullying against them.

Sakai has adopted -- and adapted -- the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program to educate our students about bullying and how to stop it from occurring.  We also impose disciplinary consequences for HIB behavior.  Our approach is described further on this website.