Bullying directly affects up to one in four students. With modern technologies, such as e-mail, social networking sites, blogs and text messaging, the potential for bullying has expanded from the playground to cyberspace.

But teaching students the dangers of bullying and related topics such as anger management, empathy and respecting each other can be difficult.

St. Francis of Assisi School in Burien on Feb. 2 found an entertaining and effective way to teach the lessons during school assemblies by presenting two captivating plays featuring compelling characters.

Taproot Theatre's Road Company presented the age-appropriate plays. The group has performed dynamic social-issue plays for over one million Puget Sound school students since 1985.

School counselor Lonnie Miller notes that St. Francis runs an anti-bullying curriculum throughout the year. Last week was Catholic School Week, during which St. Francis holds an assembly.

So, Miller said it was a natural choice to book Taproot's road company to make the presentations.

For those who think that bullying isn't as big a problem at a private religious school as at a public school, Miller responds, "It happens everywhere,"

Responding to the problem may be easier at St. Francis because "we are allowed to take instant action," Miller said. "We have a definite policy. It is very easy to say when a student has crossed the line."

Kindergarteners through fifth graders watched "Super School," a play that Taproot commissioned Bethany Wallace to write.

In Wallace's play, it's back to school at Asteroid Academy, and the first rule is, no superpowers on the playground. But when Danrelle uses her invisibility powers to steal Tilly's toy and tries to get her to explode in anger, the students risk detention or even being suspended.

Following the play, the actors asked St. Francis students thought-provoking questions designed to reinforce the lessons of problem solving, empathy, emotional management and bullying prevention.

For sixth, seventh and eighth-graders, the focus was on gossip, rumors and cyberbullying.

In "Don't Tell Jessica" by Josh Hornbeck, the scene shifted to Clements High where Homecoming was just around the corner and the stakes were high as a group of friends discovered the danger of jealousy when its was wielded like a weapon in e-mails and social networks.

"The upper grades were really glued to it," Miller reported.

According to studies, 15-25 percent of students report being bullied and 15-20 percent say they have bullied others. In some cases, the bullying led to suicide.

In Washington state, nearly 15,000 students were suspended and 442 expelled in 2008-2009. In King County, 2,231 students were suspended and 89 expelled.

A tougher state law took effect in June that requires schools to institute policies regarding harassment, intimidation and bullying. It mandates that each school district appoint one person to be the primary contact on the issue.