SWO – Bullying Awareness & Prevention Week

Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week is a great opportunity to focus on relationships that exist within the school.  School staff has an important role in this, but research tells us that one-off activities and events do not transform behaviours or attitudes. Transformation occurs when we continually invite students to connect, reflect and respond to complex issues.  Student opinions of bullying prevention measures improve if they feel adults have the skills and efficacy to stop bullying behaviours and when pro-social behaviour norms are communicated and reinforced.

Over the next week Sir William Osler staff and students will be participating in various activities to support bullying awareness and prevention strategies.  However, parents are encouraged to review the Bullying We Can All Help Stop It: A Guide For Parents and share their expectations with their child. 

At HWDSB, schools use the TipOff service for anonymous reporting of bullying and other incidents that may make schools unsafe. TipOff can receive reports by text message, phone call, smartphone app or web chat – and this information is shared with the school for next steps based on Board/school protocols.