WFS - our school has a lunchtime program for 'selected' children, they get mentored by older kids....sort of a casual 'learn how to be nice while you eat lunch' club, run by kids with adult couselor or psychologist leading it.
Ifyou want more info, I can get the official name of the program...it is funded by our district, so I guess that is one program that did not get cut so there must be a real need for it.
We also have a peer mentor program for discpiline issues, it called Peer Intervention Program I think...kids sometimes listen better to a peer than an adult. That too is of course, supervised and run by adults with training in the area of early childhood. The child mentors are selected by the teachers at the beginning of the year. They are not the same as the lunchtime club mentors, they are 2 separate programs. The mentors feel really good about their role too, its a win win situation.

the site was revamped, here is the link, maybe u found it: www.bullyonline.org/workbully/serial.htm

And re kids and character building programs, good info/programs at:

www. dontlaugh.org

books:
The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander by Barbara Coloroso
Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and Other Realities of Adolescence by Rosalind Wiseman
Dont remmebr the author of these:
Mean Girls
Odd Girl Out

beignets~ Thanks for the website. We have an issue with a few older kids in our school and the girls are getting to be so catty. I found this information so helpful and sent it to our school counselor as well. Our teachers have been putting on their own assemblies for character traits and I suggested doing one on bullying.
The information on the website was fascinating and so informative. Thanks for sharing!

We too have had issues in our school where parents make crazy demands, if it is to ban a book, change food in the cafeteria or challenge a parent taking a photo of their child in school claiming they may use it improperly. Many parents want to micro manage their child's Principal/School Board in the name of "I pay taxes" I simply despise that type of behavior from parents. It sounds like this Principal is into the petty stuff, I sure hope she is paying attention to the learning that is going on in school. Summer will hopefully heal some wounds.

you could also surf the term 'relational agression' (typical female type bullying), tons of info out there.

I found it very eye opening too, the info there. Even if it is UK based, human nature is what it is the world over, I guess.