Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

Bullying, Peer Pressure As Early As Kindergarten

Bullying, Peer Pressure As Early As Kindergarten

Guidance counsellor for the Willard Wheatley and the Francis Lettsome Primary Schools, Sharon Lennard has revealed that bullying and peer pressure is being seen at the Kindergarten level in the British Virgin Islands.
Speaking with Acting Chief Education Officer Connie George on Wednesday on A Chat with the Community in light of the National School Counselling Week being observed this week, she said those were some of the challenges that they face as counsellors.

“I will speak of the primary school level, but I think you would have these at the higher school level also. We notice that there are a lot of academic challenges with our students; a lot of our students are performing below grade level. Also, we have a lot of bullying and peer pressure in our schools. You may be surprised to see a K[indergarten] student bullying another child, and it is there very clear,” she remarked.

She continued: “Also, we have cases of self-worth, how you feel about yourself, self-esteem. Another thing that is coming across is family issues; all kinds of different various issues. So these are some of the problems that we have in our schools. We work with them, and what we cannot do on our own, we make referrals. So we will refer them to outside agencies.”

Meanwhile, Keriann Malone, the guidance counsellor for grade 7 at the Elmore Stoutt High School said having conversations with children goes a long way.

“I would like parents to be more open with students, be more active in your child’s life, whether it’s asking the simple question like ‘how was your day.’”

Also addressing that topic, Lennard said: “It’s kind of hard for me to say, but it comes across as if they are not conversing on a day to day level with their children. If they are open with their children, the more they dialogue with them, children will be open when they come to school, and so they would not be afraid to speak to the counsellors, they would not be afraid to speak to the teachers.”

She said parents must also appreciate the work that counsellors do and reach out to them in the event their child is experiencing difficulties at home.

“So we just want parents to speak to their children and acknowledge that we are here to help,” she added.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
×