At St. David Catholic Elementary School it takes a community of parents and teachers working together to create a safe, friendly school environment. The St. David School Catholic Parent Council believes that a positive school climate exists when all members of the school community feel safe, included and accepted, and all members of the school community actively promote positive behaviour and respectful interactions. Theresa Roussell, Parent Council Chair says, “All students, parents, and school staff have the right to be safe, and to feel safe, in their school community. But with this right comes the responsibility to contribute to a positive school climate”.
During Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week – November 18-22, 2013 – students, school staff and parents were encouraged to learn more about bullying and its effect on student learning and well-being.
St. David School would like to thank all community partners who work to make St. David School a safe and accepting school: Greater Sudbury Police Services, Child and Family Center, Sudbury Health Unit, Skakoon Hardware, Men’s Club at Christ the King Church (Holy Trinity), Breakfast Clubs of Canada, Better Beginnings Better Futures, Aboriginal Best Start HUB, the DEWCAN and White Buffalo Road Healing Lodge. “When we work together in true partnership our children are the beneficiaries”, states Theresa Roussell.
St. David School Welcomes Bully Prevention Week in Partnership with a Message from Greater Sudbury Police Services
On Monday November 18, all schools throughout Ontario are celebrating the start of Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week. This is a week to help promote safe schools and positive learning environments. During Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week, students, school staff and parents are all encouraged to learn more about bullying and its effect on student learning and well-being.
St. David Catholic School and the Greater Sudbury Police Services used the launch of this week to introduce students to the “THINK” bracelet. Special Constable Denise Fraser visits the students of St. David School on a weekly basis. Together with Greater Sudbury Police Services, St. David Catholic School has implemented a crime prevention and safety program to better support its students and their families. This program helps develop positive relationships between children and police, as well as provides access for students to reliable, accurate information about the law and how it protects them.
Through this program, Mrs. Fraser provides guidance and direction to students, parents and teachers as well as provides opportunities for students to form a better understanding of the role of a police officer in the community. The police liaison program’s topics include: bullying awareness and prevention, street safety, drug and alcohol education, internet safety, cyber crime and law awareness.
This week, the THINK program was introduced. The THINK program is a program sponsored by the Greater Sudbury Police Service. Each student was give a bracelet with the word “THINK” on it.
According to Mrs. Fraser, “we want children to THINK when they are addressing someone or talking to someone about someone. The first letter is T which stands for true. Truth is very important. If what a student is saying is not true and based on gossip it is not worth saying in the first place.
The next letter is H. H stands for hurtful. We are stressing to all students that they need to ensure their words are not hurtful to others. Calling someone names or gossiping about them hurts their feelings. I stands for illegal. Be aware of your actions. Words can be spoken verbally or electronically. On Facebook, twitter or in a text it is it illegal to threaten someone. Ask yourself, is what I am saying illegal? Is it defamation?
The N stands for is it really necessary. Life is too short. We should spend our precious seconds during the day doing things that bring joy and happiness to ourselves and others. Finally, K stands for kindness. Let’s start being kind to each other so that we can erase the bullying that exists in our schools.”
The students of St. David Catholic Elementary School embraced Mrs. Fraser’s message and proudly wore their THINK bracelets throughout the day. They hope all schools embrace Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week and start to live by the THINK bracelet motto.