Category Archives: Cyber-bullying in Schools

PRO Grant Money Used by Parent Council to Benefit all Students at Peel School

PRO Grant Money (Parents Reaching Out) is provided by the government of Ontario to benefit schools and school children all across Ontario. Caledon East Public School has made wise use of their PRO Grant money. They sponsored a Stand Up To Bullying Day with speaker/presenter Bruce Langford of Stand Up Now Productions.

Bruce Langford presented his interactive ‘Stand Up Against Bullying’ assemblies for all the students of the school. Later, the students brought parents back to learn about the internet, cyber-safety and bullying prevention. The parent session was called ‘Stand Up – Keep Your Kids’.
Parent Council Chair, Mrs. Jan McFadyen, felt the money was well spent. More than twenty-five families attended the evening session, representing a good percentage of the school population. Some of the comments made by parents following the presentation were:

“Excellent information and a great way to present it!”

“Bruce made the presentation very interesting and easy to follow.”

“This format kept the interest of both parents and children. Wow!”

“I’ve seen student presentations and I’ve seen parent presentations, but I’ve never seen a successful combination like Bruce achieved tonight.” Mrs. Laurie Allison, Principal, Caledon East Public School.

Caledon East students work together to achieve a sense of community. They care about each other, their teachers, and their building. They are eager to learn about bystanders and strategies to stand up against bullying. Caledon East is a caring community of people who show respect to each other. Thanks for sharing, Caledon East!
Book programs for your school. Invite Bruce Langford of Stand Up Now Productions. He will present assemblies specifically designed for each division. Website: www.standupagainstbullying.com

How friends can reduce cyber-bullying at Howard Public School, Toronto

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Students at Howard Public School in Toronto have their own ideas about how to stand up against bullying. They believe that their friends can help them and that people should stand by their friends. We talked about ways that people can support each other and how you sometimes need to talk with a teacher, a parent or another trusted adult. We saw a role-play about how bystanders can help. We talked about a video that encouraged empathy.

Howard Public School Outdoor Mosaic Mural

Principal, Mrs. Rosanna Sardella spoke highly of our ‘Cyberbullying – Got 2 Go’ assemblies and said she would encourage other schools to host the assemblies.
Bruce Langford’s school assemblies are available for students from kindergarten to grade 8. www.standupagainstbullying.com

Remember, friends can stand up for each other. That can help reduce bullying!

Student Bystanders Show Assembly Audience How to Stand Up Against Bullying

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We spent the day today with the students at Redstone Public School in Greater Toronto (Richmond Hill). We talked about the character trait of the month, which for January is optimism. We talked about bullying, the bystander, and how to deal with real-life bullying situations. The students learned by watching scenarios acted out by grade 7 and 8 students. We watched videos and listened to music. The students clapped and cheered at appropriate times and then later were silent when someone was left out of a game during a role-play. The students had empathy for that one person not picked for the team.

Obviously, the teachers and students care about the right things at Redstone School. They care about treating each other with respect and dignity. The Redstone Creed is called their Touchstone. Read it here. What do you think?

The Redstone Public School Touchstone
At Redstone Public School, we respect ourselves, others and our environment. We are responsible for what we say and what we do. We speak up for ourselves, and others and and we include everyone in all activities.
We treat all people equally and we help others without being asked. We never give up, no matter how difficult the task. At Redstone, everything is possible.
Optimism Quotes:
Optimism is the tendency to take a favourable or hopeful view.
Oxford English Dictionary

The difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is how you use them.
Unknown

What seems to us as bitter trials, are often blessings in disguise.
Oscar Wilde

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
Winston Churchill

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.
Helen Keller

Redstone Public School Building

Cyber-bullying & Cyber-safety Workshops for Elementary Students get high marks

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St. Benedict Catholic School, Orangeville (Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board) welcomed Bruce Langford, of Stand Up Now Productions.
Principal, Mr. Gregory Krar was very pleased with the ‘Cyberbullying – Got 2 Go’ assemblies. “These assemblies were exactly what we wanted for our students. Bruce Langford made the topic of cyberbullying interesting and entertaining for our students. The videos and role-plays made the messages easy to understand.” Mr. Krar was just as pleased with the Stand Up Now workshops when they were presented at his last school, St. Andrew Catholic School in Orangeville.

Students got involved in the dialogue, with one student warning others about the potential dangers of web cams. He explained how your computer can be hacked and the hacker can actually see what your web cam is seeing.
One student said she would use the tip about including numbers or symbols in passwords.
We were impressed with the students at St. Benedict. They really took this topic of cyberbullying and cyber-safety seriously. They interacted positively and were respectful audiences.

Teacher approved Cyber-bullying Assemblies in Kitchener Ontario

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Just returned from presenting 3 Cyber-bullying Got 2 Go assemblies at Sandhills Public School in Kitchener Ontario (Waterloo Region District School Board). The students were totally keen to learn how to stay safe in cyber-space. Benny DL asked questions and students got involved with their answers.

Nancy, a Grade 3 Teacher, made the following remark after the assembly: “Your program was just awesome with a very timely message. I loved how you tied our Sandhills Guidelines into your assembly.”

Allison (not her real name) is a grade 3 student who made a special trip back to the gym to tell us: “That was the best assembly we’ve ever had!”

Here is a tip we shared about staying safe on-line. “If someone is mean on-line, don’t even answer the message.”

Remember, if you are having problems with people on-line, it is important to talk to a parent, a teacher or another adult you trust.

The Sandhills Suns believe in living ‘Above the Line’. Living above the line means taking responsibility for your choices, being accountable and being willing to work toward solutions. Living below the line includes quitting, denying, justifying and laying blame.

‘Be Kind On-Line’ Beat Cyberbullying Song

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Here is a song we put together to help people learn how to beat cyberbullying and stay safe online. It is called:

1. Online chatting, text messages and e-mails

This is how we check on social details

Try to be friendly, don’t put people down

This is my advice – now spread it around.

Be kind, online.

2. Words you use on line are not as private as you think

Stuff that you sent can be found out in a wink

Screens can be printed, captured or saved

You could get in trouble for the way you behaved.

Be kind, online.

3. If you show true respect for other people online

You’re showing how we all should be all the time

It’s likely that your friends will start doing it too

‘Cause you’ll set an example of what people should do.

Be kind, online.

4. You likely will become the person people respect

Never really knowing how many you effect

Just ‘cause you made up your mind to be fair

You’re helping kids here, there and everywhere.

Be kind, online.

Just try to be kind on-line.

York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) Cyberbullying Got 2 Go Assemblies

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Today Our Lady Help of Christians (OLHC) Catholic School in Richmond Hill hosted Bruce Langford, of Stand Up Now Productions to present two assemblies. Cyberbullying – Got 2 Go was the name of the assembly for grades 6,7,8 students. Three role plays by OLHC students were featured which emphasized to children about the dark side of facebook, the possibility of cyber predators, and possible cyber stalking. The song ‘Passwords’ was also a feature of the program. It included a number of tips about passwords including the repeated line: passwords – keep ‘em to yourself, tell no one else.

Here is a tip about passwords: Never choose a password by using the name of your pet or your street name. Others can often guess those kinds of passwords. Instead choose 8-14 characters which include lower case, upper case, numbers and symbols.

We remarked to Principal Ms. Gabriela Mastrodi-Casa how impressed we were with her school. Students were keen to learn about the concepts being taught in the assemblies, and the student audience was completely attentive during all the videos, role-plays and songs. They were also respectful as we spoke about the importance of Catholic faith and how it relates to the topic of treating others the right way.

Book Bruce Langford to present programs in your school. 1-800-901-8831 or visit the website at www.standupnow.ca

Spirit of Community Assemblies About Bullying, Cyberbullying and Respect at Waterloo Region School

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“Respectful students make a respectful school.”

That statement really rings true here in Elmira, Ontario. We found the spirit of community to be alive and well at Floradale Public School in Elmira (Waterloo Region District School Board).

This is a farming community where people really help people. That feeling came through as we spent time with the students today, talking about cyberbullying and respect. The role-plays drove home the point that we need to be respectful in the real world and the virtual world, no matter what. Students at Floradale care about each other. We could feel the passion for respect as we presented the Stand Up Against Bullying assemblies to the students.

Floradale Public School, Elmira Ontario

Floradale School Principal, Leslie McNabb said, “All three assemblies were phenomenal ! The kids were riveted, the teachers were raving, and the students really GOT the messages.”

Arrange to have Bruce Langford present assemblies at your school by contacting Stand Up Now Productions at 1-800-901-8831 or visit the website at www.standupnow.ca

Cyberbullying taken seriously at Coledale School where meanness is not tolerated

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Coledale Public School Cyberbullying Program

Cyberbullying Program at Coledale Public School

The 7 steps to Cyber-safety were talked about and taken seriously by students and staff at Coledale Public School in Toronto (Markham) on Friday.

Step # 4: Never meet people you have met on the web.

The above cyber-safety/internet tip was highlighted in a role-play where two girls arranged to meet someone at the mall. This was no stranger. After all, one of the girls had been chatting on-line with ‘Georgina’ for three months. Suddenly she was in town for a swim meet and offered to meet in the food court at the local mall. Gasps could be heard from the audience when it turned out ‘Georgina’ was not a 13 year old girl at all, but in fact a 43 year old man.
Police became involved and the potential victims were protected from the close call.

Following the assembly, we talked personally with some staff members who commented:
“The role-plays really drove home the points about misrepresentation on the internet and I loved your songs as well. We were very pleased with the Stand Up Now assemblies at Coledale!”
Donna McGann, Principal, Coledale Public School, Markham Ontario, York Region District School Board

“Bruce Langford tapped into the multiple intelligences with his dynamic, clear, engaging way of reaching the audience. This was one of the best performances I’ve ever seen at all the schools I’ve been at!”
Karen Monteith, Teacher, Coledale Public School, Markham Ontario.

Bruce Langford of Stand Up Now Productions can be contacted at 1-800-901-8831 or through the website at www.standupnow.ca

Anti-bullying videos featured in Thames Valley School, Ontario Canada

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River Height Public School Sign

‘Stand Up – Keep Your Kids’ was the name of the parent/student anti-bullying session at River Heights Public School (Thames Valley District School Board) presented by Bruce Langford, of Stand Up Now Productions. During the day, the students learned to ‘Stand Up Against Bullying’ in two assemblies which took place in the gym. Then the children brought parents back for more videos, music and role-play at 6:30. Benny DL, DJ for radio station ATFM appeared in all the assemblies. Cyber-bullying, bullying and parenting tips were outlined. Free Stand Up Now CD’s were given to the twenty-five families who attended with over 45 children also receiving stickers promoting bullying prevention.

In one video, the ‘Seven Steps to Cyber-Safety’ were featured, which included a tip about not telling passwords to anyone except parents.

Consider arranging assemblies for your school by contacting Bruce Langford at 1-800-901-8831 or visit the Stand Up Now website at www.standupnow.ca