Academic corner
Blog posts by Julie Gajewski
2024-2025 School Year
October 1
Stand Together Against Bullying: October is National Bullying Prevention Month: Student Enrichment
Every October, schools and communities come together to raise awareness about bullying and promote a more inclusive environment. This year, mark your calendar for Unity Day, celebrated on the third Wednesday of October. Wear orange to show your support for bullying prevention and create a world where everyone feels safe and respected.
Unity Day - Wednesday, October 16, 2024
October is National Bullying Prevention Month
Throughout October, schools take action to educate students and staff about bullying. This includes:
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Understanding the Difference: Workshops like the one offered by Buffalo Public Schools and Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention help educators distinguish between common conflicts and bullying behavior. This allows for targeted intervention to prevent bullying before it starts.
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Creating a Safe Space: Schools develop clear procedures for identifying, addressing, and preventing bullying. These procedures, including the Diocesan School Procedures outlined below, ensure a safe and supportive learning environment for all students.
Diocesan School Procedures For Catholic Elementary Regional & Parish Schools
Not Everything is Bullying:
It's important to recognize the difference between bullying and other social interactions. Here's a quick guide:
Bullying is unwanted aggressive behavior that involves a power imbalance, is repeated or likely to be repeated, and can cause harm. It can take various forms, including physical, verbal, social, or electronic (cyberbullying). Bullying can affect anyone, regardless of gender, age, or nationality, but it often peaks in middle school. Studies show that a significant number of children and adolescents experience bullying, with negative consequences for both victims and perpetrators.
Unkind behaviors:
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Being Rude: Unintentional actions or words that hurt someone.
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Teasing: Playful banter between friends where both parties laugh.
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Conflict: Disagreements or misunderstandings that can be resolved.
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Being Mean: Intentionally hurting someone (once or twice).
Strategies for Addressing Unkind Behavior:
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Separation: When necessary, separate students involved in conflict.
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Safe Peer Support: Encourage students to seek help from trusted peers.
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Student Input: Talk to students who are being targeted and ask what would help them feel safe.
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Parental Involvement: Keep parents informed of any issues and work together to address them.
Cyberbullying is a Serious Issue:
Cyberbullying can have devastating consequences. Here are some common forms:
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Denigration: Publicly putting someone down online.
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Identity Theft/Impersonation: Pretending to be someone else to cause harm.
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Online Harassment & Threats: Sending intimidating or threatening messages.
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Flaming & Trolling: Posting inflammatory or offensive content online to provoke others.
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Photo Shopping/Tagging/Untagging: Sharing or altering photos without someone's permission.
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Outing & Trickery (Doxing): Sharing personal information online to embarrass or endanger someone.
Let's work together to prevent bullying!
Schools can equip students with essential digital citizenship skills through programs like Common Sense Media, Common Sense Education, Be Internet Awesome, and others. By promoting respect and positive online behavior, we can create a safer learning environment for everyone.
Remember, you are not alone!
If you or someone you know is being bullied, reach out for help. Report bullying to a trusted adult or use resources like StopBullying.gov. Together, we can create a world free from bullying.
Weekly Virtual Principal Meetings
Meeting Details:
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Day and Time: Wednesdays, 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
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Platform: Microsoft Teams (link sent by Laurie)
Next Meeting: Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Topics: Safety Plans, Emergency drills update, Bullying and Digital Citizenship
September 24
