Bullying Prevention

South Shore Safe Communities Bullying Prevention Working Group

Who we are: This working group has representation from the, Bridgewater Police Department, Queens and Lunenburg RCMP, Community Services, Restorative Justice, Red Cross, and Public Health Services.

Our Goals are to:

1. Increase awareness about what bullying is and the incidence of bullying in our communities

2. To support existing effective community initiatives that prevent bullying

3. To partner with stakeholders to implement strageties and programs to prevent bullying

Accomplishments:

• Developed a Bullying Prevention Kit and distributed them to several schools in Lunenburg and Queens Counties. The goal of this kit is to provide teachers and school staff with available best practice information and strageties that can be implemented to reduce bullying in the classroom and at school.

• Researched Best Practices, one of which is the "Effective Behavior Supports" Program from B.C. The committee outlined steps to implement this approach and will be calling if "Positive Effective Behavior Supports" (PEBS).

• Letter was sent to all schools in Lunenburg and Queens Counties offering to support implementation of the PEBS approach.

• From a request of a school that was already implementing the PEBS program, the need to develop a list of emergency contact numbers for parents was identified. This was prepared and distributed.

• The group had a presentation by Stacy Coy, Red Cross on Respect Ed "Beyond the Hurt" a program that is school based and co-facilitated with teachers and youth to reduce bullying.

• Received a one time grant from the United Way of Lunenburg County to deliver the RespectED "Beyond the Hurt" program in Lunenburg County.

• Held a Bullying Prevention inservice in the fall of 2008, with a follow-up showcase in the spring of 2009. At the showcase youth and educators from various schools on the South Shore highlighted the work that they are doing related to Bullying Prevention in their schools.

Work in Progress:

• Continue to provide support to schools on the South Shore related to Bullying Prevention.

• Continue to update the Bullying Prevention Tool Kit.

• Work with the South Shore Regional School Board to support them as they implement the PEBS program in their schools.

• Create an updated list of bullying initiatives in South Shore Regional Schools.

• Develop an updated pamphlet to increase awareness in the community.To view a copy of our pamphlet in progress please click here.

 Bullying Prevention Safety Related Links:

Bullying.org website: www.bullying.org