File photo of Odyssée students and teacher Sylvie Vannier marking International Day Against homophobia with HSSE members former NorthBay-ites Derek Fergie and Maria Buscemi.
It is Bullying Prevention and Awareness Week and both the Near North District School Board and the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board have a variety of activities during the week.
The Near North Board schools have dozens of activities and workshops planed including Pink Day, which is Wednesday when all students, staff and administrators will celebrate the virtue of acceptance and draw awareness to the prevention of bullying by wearing pink.
Board officials say they know that a positive and inclusive school environment is essential for students to succeed. Staff, students, parents and community partners have to work hard together to keep our schools safe.
“Providing students with an opportunity to learn and develop in a safe and respectful community is a shared responsibility,” states a news release.
“Our schools play an important role. Each of our schools is working hard to align practices with the Board plan to address bullying prevention and intervention. In taking these steps, each of our schools will continue to foster a positive learning and teaching environment that supports academic achievement for all students and that helps students reach their full potential.”
“Committed leadership and ongoing collaboration at all levels (individual, classroom, school, parent and community) are key factors in the success of a whole school approach to safe and accepting schools.”
From plays, to website research to signing banners and making a pledge to stamp out bullying, The NBPS Catholic Board also has scores of activities running during the week.
Meanwhile, Odyssée teacher Sylvie Vannier was celebrated in Ottawa for her work with students locally to eliminate bullying.
MP Jay Aspin stood in the house to and made the following statement to mark the day.
“Mr. Speaker,
November 17-23 is recognized as Bullying Awareness Week. The 2013 theme is “Stand Up! (to bullying)
In 2000, Canadian educator Bill Belsey launched bullying.org and from there went across the country from community to community and school to school talking about bullying.
He realized that bullying was an issue that touches all people, directly or indirectly, regardless of their age, gender, culture, religion or nationality. He dreamed of a world where bullying was no longer seen as a "normal part of growing up", and that prevention through education and awareness was the key. He realized most people do want to "see something done" about bullying.
Bullying Awareness Week is an opportunity for people at the grassroots level in communities around the world to get involved in this issue, not by waiting for "someone else" to do something, but rather for us to work together on preventing bullying in our communities through education and awareness.
Mr. Speaker, we as Members of Parliament play important leadership roles in our communities. I encourage us all to “do something” to raise the profile this week and help reduce bullying in our communities.
I encourage MPs to wear pink sometime during Nov. 17-23 to show their support for Bullying Awareness Week in Canada.”
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