The provincial government launched its annual awareness and prevention week to stop bullying on Monday morning.
The province has set the third week of every November as Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week.
The week is an opportunity to raise awareness of bullying-related issues and make a difference in schools across the province. Since 2004, the province has supported a number of initiatives to create safe and inclusive school environments, including:
– safe school teams in every Ontario school;
– a partnership with Kids Help Phone to support over 50,000 students who have been bullied or faced other issues;
– the Keeping Our Kids Safe at School Act, which requires all board employees to report incidents of bullying to the principal, and requires principals to contact the parents of victims. Ontario is the first province in Canada with legislation of that kind.
Across the county
Centre Wellington District High School is probably the most active school in working on an anti-bullying campaign. It is providing special event the entire week to make students aware that bullying is not acceptable.
“We’re hoping to have the entire school involved,” said teacher Audrey Morrison.
On Monday organizers promoted a peer mediation program. Morrison said it started this year, and it has students helping to resolve disputes between students. The school is training students to help cut down on violence.
On Tuesday at lunch, the school planned to show video clips that promote a positive school climate.
Wednesday was called Random Acts of Kindness Day, where officials asked students to find ways to be kind to others.
Thursday, Morrison said, was more abstract. Students were given a fabric label and asked to write or draw something on it that represented the wearer. Students were to wear the label all day, and were asked to take note of any interactions as a result of their labels.
Morrison said that label promotes diversity, and at the end of the day, the quilting club was to take the labels and use them to create a banner displaying the peace sign.
Friday is T-shirt day. Students were asked to wear a pink T-shirt and assemble in the school auditorium for a photo.
Morrison said that with 1,300 to 1,500 students at CWDHS, it is important to ensure there is no bullying. She cited the Gay-Straight Alliance club that has operated at the school for several years “with great acceptance.”
But, she said, “There is always more benefits” to make people aware of bullying problems.
“The administration is very firm on bullying and that plays a role as well,” she added.
Norwell District Secondary School has a student information program it is running this week, but it is not about bullying.
Child and Youth Worker Kim Sonnet said in an interview it is also Drug Awareness Week, and the school is planning to focus on that issue this week. She added the school will be doing an anti-bullying campaign in April. She said a year ago the anti-bullying event was held in November, and the drug awareness was done in April.
“Those are two really huge issues, Sonnet said.
In two elementary schools in Elora, Ron Bachman will be speaking.
He is a double amputee whose attitude towards life has carried him through a number of careers. He is now a highly-sought motivational speaker in schools and to corporations.
He says his elementary school program has led to a dramatic decrease in bullying. He focuses on such things as understanding the power of words, as well as bridging the gap between able-bodied and disabled children.
He also highlights and explains breaking stereotypes and engaging learning in powerful ways.
Education Minister Leona Dombrowski said in a provincial press release, “Safe schools are a prerequisite for student success. Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week is another opportunity to speak up and speak out on this important issue and promote a safe and inclusive learning environment.”
serious consequences in recent months. In Orangeville, two women committed suicide after being targeted by bullies because of their sexual preferences. Since July, there have been at least four suicides in the area, McDonald said, including the two women whose bodies were discovered Oct. 1.
A self-portrait by an Orangeville District Secondary School student Amanda White is being distributed throughout the Upper District School Board and beyond — featured on the front of an awareness-raising postcard.
“I really thought that it would grab people’s attention,” Sonia McDonald, youth project facilitator for Youth Talk, a support hotline operated by local mental health groups, said of White’s photo. “Kids are normally more apt to pick something up that catches their attention, that they can relate to a little bit.
“She very much knew exactly what other kids would like, which was the whole purpose of our project.”
Cropped to include only White’s mouth to collar bone – complete with a lip piercing and headphones around her neck – is her visual interpretation of the class-developed theme Don’t Be Afraid To Talk About It.
The two local school boards are also involved in the promotion.
Maggie McFadzen, of the Upper Grand District School Board noted the province had not informed the board about the designation of the week, but there are events going on now, and others in April, when the schools have traditionally considered bullying.
Nonetheless, she said, “Our schools are out there participating.” She said some are bringing the anti-bullying message to students this week, and others will focus on it in April. She said the efforts will include poster contests, wearing pink T-shirts, and other programs.
“All of it brings attention on bullying,” she said.
McFadzen added Erin District High School will focus on events in April, and area high schools usually work with feeder elementary schools on anti-bullying.
In Guelph, at College Heights, the students will be dealing with Stand Up To Bullying Activities planned on Nov. 19.
“Every year we have become more involved in the Stand Up Day movement and this year will be better than ever,” said visual arts and English teacher Melanie Schaffer.
“We have a ton of great activities planned to take place throughout the day.”
The Wellington Catholic School Board is also involved.
Superintendent of Education Larry Clifford said in an interview “We do anti-bullying every week of the year.”
He said many students travelled to the River Run Centre this month to see Shape of Girl, a one-person play based on the view of the girl who struck the final blow that killed Vancouver teenager Reena Virk, a bullying victim.
Clifford saw the play with a packed audience of grade 10 students and said their silence demonstrated the effectiveness of the presentation. It was also showed to students from grade 2 and up. He said the elementary schools will also have announcement and students will receive an anti-bullying kit. There will also be bullying bulletin boards.
Clifford added each school has a council of students, parents, and staff to deal with bullying issues.
