February 27, 2013

 DSBN Awash in Pink  

 The power of pink can be seen at schools across Niagara.

Wednesday, February 27, is Pink Shirt Day across Canada. To show their support in the effort to end bullying, students and staff of the District School Board of Niagara have donned their best and brightest pink items to wear to school and work.

“The District School Board of Niagara does not tolerate bullying, whether it happens in-class, off school property, or online. At the DSBN, all students and staff believe that everyone has the right to be respected, and the responsibility to respect others,” says Sue Greer, Superintendent of School Support Services.

Educating students about bullying, how to recognize it, and how to stop it, is an important emphasis at DSBN schools. Through numerous anti-bullying initiatives that take place throughout the year, students learn about the powerful role they have to play in putting an end to bullying. Each school has a Safe Schools Team in place to promote an inclusive and supportive learning environment.

Schools also promote positive, healthy behaviours through character education.  Character education helps students to become positive, productive members of society by modeling attitudes and behaviours that support the well-being of others.

For more information about Pink Shirt Day, please visit www.pinkshirtday.ca

Here are just a couple of examples of the anti-bullying efforts being made at schools:

Alexandra Public SchoolStudents have created an anti-bullying song called “Stand Up, Speak Out!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rH-LMdBZ0M 

Westmount Public School
Westmount students were profiled in the St. Catharines Standard for their efforts to end bullying.
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2013/02/26/wearing-pink-and-fighting-bullying 

For more information about the DSBN’s commitment to safe schools, please see:

DSBN Safe Schools Policy: 

http://www.dsbn.org/uploadedFiles/DSBN_Policy/School_Operations/Policy-G-2.pdf 

DSBN Code of Student Behaviour: 

http://www.dsbn.org/uploadedFiles/DSBN_Policy/School_Operations/Policy-G-8(1).pdf 

DSBN Bully Prevention and Intervention Policy: 

http://www.dsbn.org/uploadedFiles/DSBN_Policy/School_Operations/Policy-G-29.pdf