Bullying Information

PITTSFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL’S ANTIBULLYING INITIATIVES HIGHLIGHTED ON NATIONAL NEWS PROGRAM

CBS News interviewed a number of students and teachers throughout the district to create this televised report

Pittsfield Public Schools’ Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan

A letter from Dr. Eberwein: “The Pittsfield Public Schools remains focused on eliminating bullying and peer harassment in our schools. This plan outlines all the steps that have been and will continue to be taken to train staff, educate students, and respond to cases of bullying. There is no room for bullying in the Pittsfield Schools and/or the City of Pittsfield, and this plan lays the groundwork for ensuring safe schools across the district.” read the entire letter here… You may download and read the entire plan and a brochure here.

Parent Information Regarding Antibullying Efforts in the Pittsfield Public Schools

Children learn best when they feel safe, respected and cared for. Pittsfield Public Schools strives to create a safe positive learning environment that prevents bullying and promotes responsible, respectful student behavior. The roots of bullying, taunting, teasing, and other uncaring behaviors in children are complex. Bullying is defined as unfair and one-sided. It happens when someone keeps hurting, frightening, threatening, or leaving someone out on purpose.

The Pittsfield Public Schools is in the process of adding to its violence prevention programming. Over the next year, we will be working on implementing the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in your child(ren)’s school. The goal of this research-based program is to reduce bullying in schools and make school a safer, more positive place where students can learn. This program addresses bullying at the school-wide, classroom, individual, and community levels. Feel free to contact Ann Marie Carpenter, the Unit Leader for School Adjustment Counselors/School Psychologists, or Jennifer Stokes, Violence Prevention SAC, for more information. Further, Kim Blair from the District Attorney’s Office is working collaboratively with us and is a further resource for you. If you would like to view more information about the Olweus program, you can visit their website, www.olweus.org

As part of the implementation process, each School Building has created a Bullying Prevention Coordinating Committee as an arm of its School Climate/PBS Committee. In addition, the district has developed an anti-bullying policy, posted on the Policies page of this website, and specific procedures for responding to bullying reports.

If you suspect that your child is being bullied, tell him/her what you have noticed. Make sure you explain that it is not his/her fault if other children are picking on or excluding him/her. Encourage your child to tell you and other adults at school what is happening and how he/she is feeling. Make sure your child knows to tell you if the bullying happens again.

If you think your child is bullying others, describe what you have seen. Let him/her know that you care and want to help him/her learn how to treat other children in a kind and caring manner. Explain and enforce the consequences. A great interactive website for children is www.StopBullyingNow.hrsa.gov

We encourage you to communicate your concerns to school personnel. Remember that bullying can take place over a period of time, so you may need to talk with school personnel more than once. Your child may be fearful of your contacting the school, but it is always better to include us in solving the problem. Please contact the many resources at your child’s school. They include:

• The School Principal • The Vice Principal/Dean of Students/Community Coordinator • The School Adjustment Counselor • Your Child’s Teachers • Your Child’s Guidance Counselor (middle and high schools) • The School Psychologist

Family Involvement is an important part of creating and maintaining a safe, cooperative and compassionate school environment. We look forward to working together with you to establish school communities that have zero tolerance for bullying behavior. There will be more information for parents in the future.

There are additional materials for your review regarding ways to help your child with bullying posted on the website.

December 4, 2009

Supplemental Materials & Resources