2010-QUASHNET RIVER SCHOOL COUNCIL

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4. Other—Bullying We discussed concerns with bullying (in general) and the growing role of technology in bullying. f At Quashnet, we have dealt with several situations involving hurtful words that were delivered via cell phone texting (outside of school hours). We will explore bringing workshops/assemblies to the District related to this topic--geared to both parents and students. Many parents and staff members are not techno-savvy and do not, therefore, possess the necessary knowledge to protect our children. We work hard every day at Quashnet to provide our students with a learning environment free of bullying behaviors. Bullying incidents are addressed immediately. We interact and educate those involved, their parents, and provide appropriate consequences. We also educate and provide support to the target of the bullying and his/her parents. To eliminate bullying behaviors altogether is an on-going process involving many individuals and targeted actions. We are also working on establishing a regularly scheduled interaction (hopefully weekly) where Effie Purdy from MHS will bring some of her student leaders to Quashnet to work with sixth graders who have been identified to have bullying tendencies—maybe hearing positive messages from older Mashpee students who have successfully made the journey from sixth grade to high school can help these students make better choices. Meg Morrison, a school adjustment counselor at Quashnet, is also exploring establishing a similar program where this same population of sixth graders would work with younger students—maybe second graders from Coombs. We have two anti-bullying student assemblies scheduled for April 9th—one for third and fourth graders and another for fifth and sixth graders. The Power of One program uses skits to portray what bullying is, what can be done about it, and how every child has the power of one, the power to report bullying when they see it. Through their skits the actors explain the roles in bullying—the bully, the target, and the bystander. They show examples of different types of bullying—physical, verbal, exclusion, and cyber-bullying. They alert children that targets need help and intervention, encourage students not to be bystanders, and emphasize the need for individual action to make the community a safer, better place. Classroom lesson plans are also provided to further support the empowering message of each assembly. Our next Quashnet School Council meetina is scheduled for Thursday. March 11, 2010.