Superior-Greenstone DSB Bullying Prevention – November 17-21
MARATHON, ON – Schools throughout the Superior Greenstone District School Board have numerous activities and initiatives planned for November 17-21, 2014 to recognize Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week. The goal of these activities is to encourage and promote respect for everyone while increasing awareness and prevention of bullying.
“The Superior Greenstone District School Board is committed to both student achievement and student wellbeing, and our safe and inclusive schools initiative links these two goals together,” says David Tamblyn, Director of Education for the Superior Greenstone District School Board. “Fundamental to student achievement is feeling safe and welcome at school.We appreciate the dedication of staff, students, parents and
the community to this critical goal.”
The Pledge is a district-wide initiative that seeks to raise the public’s consciousness about bullying – in schools, at work and at home. Superior Greenstone District School Board is encouraging parents, businesses and service agencies to participate in taking The Pledge to end bullying and register their commitment by simply logging onto the board website at www.sgdsb.on.ca and clicking on the Living the Pledge icon.
Schools and organizations are invited to create at least one opportunity for their members (including students, employees, customers and volunteers) to come together to take The Pledge. Schools in Superior-Greenstone District School Board will be taking The Pledge on Monday, November 17, which marks the beginning of Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week.
The pledge reads as follows:
“I believe that everybody has the right to live in a community where they feel safe, included, valued and accepted regardless of differences. I pledge to be respectful of others and stand up against bullying whenever and wherever I see it.”
The following is a summary of the events and activities that are planned to mark bullying prevention week in schools around Superior-Greenstone DSB.
In the Geraldton Composite High School on Monday November 17 at the beginning of Period One, staff and students will sign “The Pledge to End Bullying”. The banner will be displayed in the main corridor as a reminder of the schools commitment to end bullying.
Over at Lake Superior High School, two clubs have been created at to raise awareness of issues directly impacting students. The Diversity Alliance is comprised of a group of students who are committed to making Lake Superior High School a safe welcoming environment for all students. There is also the Social Innovators Club which is devoted to taking up a number of social causes including Free the Children, the Malala Fund, Because I am a Girl, World Vision and the David Suzuki Foundation Blue Dot Tour. Lake Superior High School has been quite proactive in its campaign against bullying. The End Bullying photographs featured in this article were created by the students themselves. Five different pictures with various pledges are prominently displayed through the high school.
At Manitouwadge High School, one of the classes has just completed and compiled information that it collected through a survey to determine the extent of bullying at its high school. A principal finding of their research was that much of the bullying takes place via social media. Students are creating posters to display their investigations on a bulletin board. Each day they will share a piece of that information during the morning announcements. Other activities planned by students include having The Pledge recited daily and they are also running a social media “Pay it Forward with Kindness” challenge. As well students will be provided with resources to learn more about bullying issues including references to get personal help and support if need be.
Dorion Public School has taken a proactive approach to addressing bullying and student mental health with the school hosting a student mental health awareness presentation for parents in the Nipigon, Red Rock, and Dorion region on October 28. Bruce Ferguson, a psychologist with the Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto was the guest speaker. He shared with the participants the importance of instilling hope, nurturing valuable relationships and growth mindsets in the youth of today. His storytelling and evidence based practice provided insights and knowledge to use when working with youth in any scenario. The evening finished with a question period.
Margaret Twomey Public School has bullying prevention foremost in mind too with primary students’ reading exercises for the week slated to promote anti-bullying behaviours. Intermediate students are going to work through their drama classes with role playing activities that focus on passive, assertive and aggressive behaviours. The school foyer is going to be outfitted with an anti-bullying display and classroom Pledge Posters are being prepared for students signatures. Once signed, the posters will remain on display in classrooms for the year. The Superior Greenstone District School Board’s commitment to empowering students and staff to stand up to bullying and inequity, as well as standing together to build safe, equitable, caring and inclusive environments in all schools will continue throughout school year.
