Grand Avenue CARES

Compassionate

Accountable

Respectful

Equitable

Strong

Learn Well, Stay Safe, Graduate & Participate

We all do better when we work together. Our

differences do matter, but our common humanity

matters more.-Bill Clinton

http://stopbullying.tumblr.com/

The Dignity Act

signed into law on 9/23/10 and took effect on 7/1/12.

ALL students are entitled to school environment free from: Discrimination

Intimidation

Taunting

Harassment

Bullying

If a student observes anyone being bullied or harassed there is an obligation for the student to report the offense.

http://www.p12.nysed.gov/dignityact/

Human Connections

Lunch group for all 7th grade students.

Establish connections with peers.

Make connections with adults in the school.

Rapport building exercises.

Each group meets 2 times from October to December.

First Group

Icebreaker Activity

Introduce yourself and a funny story.

Review the tenets of Grand CARES.

Educate on and discuss the Dignity Act.

Second Group

Introduce the topic of bullying.

What does it look like in school?

Why is it such a major topic of discussion?

How has technology impacted bullying?

Dateline video “My kid would never bully”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY29CsKgz10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ask9x8gx9Dg

Differences between boys and girls

What is a bystander? What is an upstander? Why does it matter?

Data

In the 2012-13 school year Grand Avenue MS recorded 21 incidents of bullying of which 7 met the criteria, under the Dignity Act, to be reported to NYS.

Of these incidents, 3 of them occurred in the 1st marking period. One out of the three met the criteria, under the Dignity Act to be reported to NYS.

Pre-surveysPre-surveys about bullying were distributed to 2 randomly selected groups before the start of their second sessions.

84% of 7th grade students surveyed “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that they felt close to the people at school.

78% of 7th grade students surveyed “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that they will think about how their words or actions might affect someone before they say or do something.

89% of 7th grade students surveyed “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that the adults in the school are kind and care about them.

100% of 7th grade students surveyed “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that they would like to do something to reduce teasing, bullying, or other kinds of mistreatment in the school.

63% of surveyed 7th graders felt “very confident” that they would take on the role of an upstander (someone who takes action to stop bullying when they witness it happening) as opposed to a bystander (someone who does not take action to stop bullying when they witness it happening).

84% of 7th grade students surveyed “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that people their age can make a big difference in the school.

Our Goals In 2013-14 decrease the total number of

bullying incidents on record by 4, bringing the total number of incidents to 17.

In 2013-14 decrease the total number of bullying incidents that meet criteria required to be reported to NYS as per the Dignity Act by 2, bringing the total number of reported incidents to 5.

Increase students’ rate of response indicating a positive sense of connection to their school community and a strong sense of self-efficacy in regards to the school environment and bullying by 2%.

Have a Grand Day!...Mmmkay?