To report bullying, please click on the following link. Your concerns will be dealt with by a principal or guidance counselor.  Your concerns are of the utmost importance to us! 

Click here to REPORT A BULLYING CONCERN

Everybody contributes to society in different ways.  It’s okay to be DIFFERENT!  Down the road in life, there are opportunities for everybody to “fit in.” The braniac may become your heart surgeon.  The second string athlete may play in the superbowl.  The drama club understudy may go on to win an Academy Award.  Think about how wonderful the world is because of our diversity.  Scholars, poets, sports heroes, actors, military personnel, scientists, researchers, teachers, doctors, nurses, builders, scout leaders, parents, grandparents, siblings.  Heroes are everywhere everyday.  People we look up to give us inspiration to be our best.  You can be a hero to others by becoming a role model and by just doing the right thing.  Don’t be a bystander, be proactive!

"In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends..."
                                                                                         -Martin Luther King, Jr.
 

 
Resources for Parents:

• Check out EyeGuardian.  It's a great resource that monitors your child's Facebook for inappropriate content and threats.
• The Parent's Guide to Facebook is a helpful manual produced by the Connect Safely organization.
   

Take an active role in decreasing the bullying occurring in your school.  There is a big difference between being a tattle-tale and caring enough to stop the bully in their tracks.  Take steps by telling school staff what is occurring.

 

VICTIM - A person who is being mentally or physically abused by another person   They are sometimes pushed to the point of distancing themselves from others and fall into a depressed state of mind.

BULLY - A person who decides to take it upon themselves to make another human being feel uncomfortable with themselves with comments or actions.   

BYSTANDER - They have the ability to have an effect on the outcome but they have to decide if they want to become involved or not.  Many times they back away from the idea of getting involved, because they don’t want to become the target of the bully, as well.

Tips for Parents
Protect Your Child From Bullying by Allan L. Beane, Ph.D. 

Here are some steps parents can take and information to help a child who is being bullied.

• For a behavior to be labeled bullying, it has to be persistent (repeated over time) and intentionally designed to hurt or frighten your child. Also, the bully must have power and control over your child.
• Let your child know that no one deserves to be bullied.
• Stay calm.
• Be sensitive to the fact that your child may feel embarrassed and ashamed.
• Find out what happened, who was involved, and when and where it happened, and keep a log of this information.
• Express confidence that you, the adults at school, and your child will be able to find a solution.
• Ask your child to write down in a journal or notebook her thoughts and feelings about what happened.
• Explain that bullies seek to hurt and control. So your child must not let them know he is hurt by their behavior.
• Let your child know that it is normal to feel hurt, fear, and anger.
• Avoid being a "fix-it" dad or mom by calling the bully's parents. Most of the time, this action is not effective. However, not all parents of bullies respond in a protective manner.
• Don't tell your child to retaliate. It's against the rules, and retaliation frequently makes the bullying worse and more prolonged. Additionally, bullies are often more powerful than their victims.
• Don't tell your child to ignore the bully. Most of the time, ignoring doesn't work.
• Teach your child to be assertive, but not aggressive.
• Don't promise that you will not tell anyone.
• Ask for a copy of the district's antibullying policy.
• Report all physical assaults to the school and to police.
• Take pictures of all injuries and hold a ruler next to the injuries to show their sizes. Keep a record of all medical treatment, including counseling, and all medical expenses and related travel expenses.
• Be patient. Some situations take more time to investigate and stop than others.
• Involve your child in activities inside and outside school. Involvement in activities she enjoys increases the chances of high-quality friendships.
• Monitor your child's whereabouts and his friendships.
• Involve your child in discovering solutions to her bullying situation.
• Watch for signs of depression and anxiety in your child, and do not hesitate to seek professional counseling.
• Ask an older student with good morals to mentor your child.
• Don't give up.

 

Victim Warning Signs

These are some of the warning signs victims of bullying might display.

• Sudden decreased interest in school (wants to stay home)
• Sudden loss of interest in favorite school activities (e.g., band, swim team, basketball team)
• Sudden decrease in quality of school work
• Wants the parent to take her to school instead of riding the bus
• Seems happy on weekends, but unhappy, preoccupied, or tense on Sundays
• Suddenly prefers the company of adults
• Frequent illnesses such as headaches and stomachaches
• Sleep issues such as nightmares and insomnia
• Comes home with unexplained scratches, bruises, and torn clothing
• Talks about avoiding certain areas of the school or neighborhood
• Suddenly becomes moody, irritable, or angry and starts bullying others (e.g., siblings, children in neighborhood)
• Seeks the wrong friends in the wrong places (e.g., drug users, cult, hate group, gang)
• Talks about being sad, anxious, depressed, or having panic attacks
• Wants to stay home at night
• Wants to stay home on weekends
• Self-mutilates
• Talks about suicide

These tips can help parents understand the problems their children may face when harassed at school. Parents and educators need to stay vigilant, look for these warning signs, and attempt to address problems quickly. Students deserve to feel safe at school; parents and other adults can help students who suffer at the hands of bullies.

Allan L. Beane is founder and CEO of Bully Free Systems, LLC. Schools and districts throughout the United States have adopted his program (The Bully Free Program), books, and resources.

 

 

 

Other important links:

https://www.bville.org/teacherpage.cfm?teacher=2359 - Webpage of Officer Weeks and Officer Knaul, Baldwinsville School Resource Officers

http://www.education.com/reference/article/suspect-child-being-bullied/ - a website with ideas of what to do if you suspect your child is being bullied

http://www.relationalaggression.com/- What is RELATIONAL AGGRESSION?