Category Archives: Anti-Bullying

Grand Forks high school students teach respect & caring at elementary schools

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Red River High School drama students (L-R) Jacoba Woodard, Nic Rolph, Morgan Yound, Seth Cline and Erin Lesch present their annual Character Education performance for children at Century Elementary School Wednesday. Photo by Eric Hylden/Grand Forks Herald

Be sure to check out this story by Jennifer Johnson, Herald staff writer, in the Thursday, March 21 Grand Forks Herald.

With skits, Grand Forks high schoolers teach respect, caring at elementary schools

Here is an activity page on Respect to use with younger students.  Download by clicking on the following link:  RESPECT

“Spread the Word to End the Word”

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March 6 is the Annual Awareness day for “Spread the Word to End the Word.”  Grand Forks Red River High School graduate Erin Baumann, 31, stood before hundreds of Valley Middle School students Tuesday and told them what happens when the word “retard” is used.  Read the full story by Jennifer Johnson, Herald staff writer, by clicking on the following link: http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/258148/

Erin Baumann greets her mom and dad, Meredith, left, and Tim Baumann, with a big smile after her presentation to middle school students at Valley Middle School Tuesday. Her speech on stopping students from using the “r-word” in reference to kids with developmental disabilities is part of Wednesday’s national campaign day Spread the Word. Photo by Eric Hylden/Grand Forks Herald

RESPECT – The easiest way to show respect is to treat other people the same way you like to be treated.  The world is filled with billions of different kinds of people. All of us have different colored skin and hair. We are different shapes and different sizes. We all have different abilities, too. Some folks can run fast as lightning, or climb a cliff in seconds flat. Other folks need wheelchairs or specially trained dogs to help them get around. Everybody has a unique way of looking at life, too. That’s what makes our world so fascinating! Can you imagine a world where everyone looks the same, and has the same point of view? Yikes! That would be pretty boring!

Luckily, we are all unique and special. And every single one of us deserves to be treated fairly, spoken to nicely, and heard. If everyone showed that kind of respect, there’d be a lot less arguing and fighting.

Here are two FREE guides from the NIE Institute. They are called “Respecting Others.” One is geared for grades K-3 and the other is geared for grades 3-7. Click on the following links to download.

Respecting Others Grades K-3

Respecting Others Grades 3-7

To learn more visit: http://r-word.org/

Help your teen stay safe on facebook

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Have you seen yet another story in the news about an adult using a computer to lure a minor?  This story was published on www.grandforksherald.com recently. “Grand Forks Police have arrested a paraeducator at several middle schools on a charge of luring a minor by computer, police said today.”  Click here to read the story.

You can help your teen use Facebook safely by explaining the importance of setting strict privacy controls, using smart judgement about what they choose to post, behaving appropriately and understanding that anything they put online can potentially be misused. Here are more tips on navigating this tricky territory.

1. Talk to your teens about controlling their information. Encourage them to be selective about what they share by customizing recipients of their posts. Activities on Facebook, including the applications teens use and games they play, can be viewed by others.

2. Use strict privacy settings. Review all of the options on your privacy settings page. Facebook’s default settings tend to keep information public until a user makes it private (although Facebook is a little stricter wiht minors’ accounts). “Friends Only” is a good choice for most items, but you can be more selective.

3. Pre-approve tags. Choose settings that allow you to see everything you’ve been tagged in (including photos) before the tag links to your page.

4. Use notification settings. You can tell Facebook that you want to be notified of any activity performed on your name, including photo tags.

5. Don’t post your location. Facebook lets users post their location on every post. Teens shouldn’t do this for safety and privacy reasons. Teens can also “tag” their friends’ location but you can prevent anyone from tagging your location in the How Tags Work section.

6. Set rules about what’s appropriate to post. No sexy photos, no drinking photos, no photos of them doing something that could hurt them in the future. Teens also need to be thoughtful about their status updates, wall posts and comments on friends’ posts. Remind them that once they post something, it’s out of their hands.

7. If in doubt, take it out. Use the “Remove Post” button to taken down risky posts.

8. Encourage teens to self-reflect before they self-reveal. Teens are very much in the moment and are likely to post something they didn’t really mean. Work with them on curbing the impulse. Teach them how to ask themselves why they’re posting something, who will be able to read is and whether it could be misunderstood or used against them later.

9. Watch out for the ads. There are tons of ads on Facebook and most major companies have profile pages. Marketers actively use Facebook to target advertising to your teen.

10. Create your own page. The best way to learn the in and out of Facebook is to create your own page. A great way to start talking to your teens about their Facebook experience is to ask them to help you create your own page.

11. “Friend” younger teens. If your kids are in middle school, it may be a sound policy to know what they’re reposting, since teens that age don’t necessarily understand that they’re creating a digital footprint. Keep in mind that kids can block you from seeing things, so chek in with them, too.

12. Talk to your high school-aged teens about whether they’re comfortable letting you “friend” them. Many will be. But if you are your teen’s friend, don’t fill his/her page with comments, and don’t friend his/her friends. Many parents say Facebook is the only way they know what’s going on in their teens’ life, so tread cautiously.

13. Choose your battles. You’ll see the good, the bad and the truly unfathomable. If you don’t want your teen to unfriend you, don’t ask them about every transgression. Keep it general.

14. Be a model friend. Remember that your teens can see what you post, too. Model good behavior for your teens and keep your own digital footprint clean.

15. Review Facebook’s Safety Center. Several FAQs, from general safety to safety for teens, provide detailed information on how to use Facebook safely.

To download a printable copy of these tips, click on the following link: http://bit.ly/SkUXd2

Rachel’s Challenge – Counter Bullying with Acts of Kindness

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The community is invited to Rachel’s Challenge.  What is Rachel’s Challenge?  It is a powerful assembly and training program for schools.  Rachel Scott was the first victim of the Columbine shootings in 1999.  Rachel’s Challenge exists to equip and inspire individuals to replace acts of violence, bullying and negativity with acts of respect, kindness and compassion.

Adults and children 12 and up are invited to these FREE presentations in the community. Rachel envisioned a world of kindness, free of violence.  As part of Safer Tomorrows, they invite community members  to experience the same message Rachel’s Challenge is delivering to our local youth to inspire them to set the example of a safer tomorrow. Due to content, it is suggested that only children 12 and over attend these adult sessions.

Tuesday, Oct. 9, Thompson High School Gymnasium, 7-8pm

Wednesday, Oct. 10, Red River High School, Grand Forks, 6:30-7:30pm

Thursday, Oct. 11, UND Chester Fritz Auditorium, 6:30-7:30pm

Related information http://nierocks.areavoices.com/2012/09/19/choose-kindness/

Choose Kindness

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Check out this story, “Program at East Grand Forks middle school urges students to choose kindness” in the Wednesday, 9/19/12 Grand Forks Herald by reporter Pamela Knudson.

You can also find coverage of it on WDAZ TV http://www.wdaz.com/event/article/id/15113/group/Reporter%20Stories/

Program at East Grand Forks middle school urges students to choose kindness

Students were urged to improve their school’s culture by starting a “chain reaction” with acts of kindness and compassion, as part of an anti-bullying presentation Tuesday at Central Middle School in East Grand Forks.  The audiovisual presentation, “Rachel’s Challenge,” is the story of 17-year-old Rachel Joy Scott, the first person killed April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., during the worst school shooting in U.S. history.

Every student has the power to change the culture of their school, Snipes said, by choosing to accept and live by five challenges:

  1. Look for the best in others
  2. Treat others the way you want to be treated
  3. Choose positive influences
  4. Speak words of kindness, not cruelty
  5. Let go of anger, bitterness, hatred

“Rachel’s Challenge” will be presented in Grand Forks next month on the following days:

  • Wednesday, Oct. 10, 6:30 pm, Red River High School Theatre
  • Thursday, Oct. 11, 6:30 pm, Chester Fritz Auditorium/UND campus

Adults may attend either session.  Call the Parent Information Center for more information (701)787-4216.

Here are some Kindness activities you can use with the newspaper in your classroom. The information is from the NIE tab, Count on Character distributed by the NIE Institute.

Click on the following link to download:  http://legacy.grandforksherald.com/pdfs/KINDNESS.pdf

Check out this school year’s NIE supplement schedule!

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Welcome back to a new school year!  I am pleased to present our 2012-2013 NIE Supplement Schedule.  Newspapers in Education supplements or tabs are featured once, sometimes twice a month, during the school year in CLASSROOM COPIES ONLY of the Grand Forks Herald. Tabs deal with a variety of topics and age levels. They also include activities to be used with the newspaper. Topics this year include:  The constitution, the presidential election, anti-bullying, staying drug free, character education, veterans, careers and more!

To download the schedule, including instructions on how to order, click on the following link:  http://legacy.grandforksherald.com/pdfs/20122013NIE.pdf

 

 

Newspapers in Education Resource

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Check out the new Grand Forks Herald NIE Instructional Resources link on this blog!  You’ll find over 300 instructional resources including high quality teacher guides, serial stories, student supplements, bullying/character education materials, numerous subject-specific resources, video & audio teacher training modules, and the popular NIE Instructional Calendar.  There are even IWB files (Interactive White Boards) for some of the guides!

These resources address the research and standards based curriculum focus of schools and teachers. There are curriculum materials for every subject area and grade level.  All resources may be copied for classroom use or for homework assignments.  There are a few examples shown below: 

BullyBust – nationwide bully prevention awareness

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Calling all BullyBust friends! The 2012 “WICKED Games. For Good” have begun! Log into your Facebook and play the first game “Together We’re Unlimited” and stand up for friendship. It’s an exciting way to have fun with your friends and raise awareness for BullyBust, sponsored by our wonderful friends at the hit Broadway show, WICKED! Play it now and share with your friends to see who can win with the best score! Hurry, because WICKED GAMES. FOR GOOD will only be available on Facebook until this Friday!”

PLAY NOW:  Together We’re Unlimited

Don’t forget to join our growing online community to get the latest updates:

 
Find us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

BullyBust is a nationwide bully prevention awareness effort launched by NSCC in 2009, BullyBust is designed to help students and adults become “upstanders”-people who stand up to bullying and become part of the solution to end harmful harassment, teasing, and violence in our nation’s schools. BullyBust promotes valuable free supports to help schools-in-need put an end to bullying with targeted school-wide and classroom-based efforts.

Facebook and Internet Safety from Local Students

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I received the monthly newsletter recently from Central High School in Grand Forks.  There was a great page with tips for parents and teens on Facebook and Internet safety from the Grand Forks Youth Commission.  I like this because it was created by local students.  There is also a list of of useful links at the end of the article.  Good job to the students of the Grand Forks Youth Commission for putting this together!

Dear Parents,

The Grand Forks Youth Commission exists to identify, promote, improve, increase and provide services and programs for young people in Grand Forks. We invite you to read through the following and learn a little more about internet safety and how to use social networking sites.

The Grand Forks Youth Commission cares. Help us make the internet a safer and kinder place for you and your children.

Tips for parents and teens:

- Create your own page. The best way to learn the ins and outs of Facebook is to create your own page. A great way to start talking to your teens about their Facebook experience is to ask them to help you create your own page.

- Control your information: Be selective about what you share by customizing the recipients of your posts. Activities on Facebook can be viewed by others.

- Use strict privacy settings: Review your privacy settings page. Facebook defaults privacy settings to public until a user makes it private.

- Pre-approve tags: Choose the settings that allow you to see everything you’ve been tagged in to accept or deny the tag before it goes on your page.

- Don’t post your location. You should do this for safety and privacy reasons. You can prevent people from tagging you at a location in the How Tags Work section.

- Set rules about what’s appropriate to post. No suggestive photos, no photos of them doing anything illegal, and no photos of them doing something that they could regret in the future. Be thoughtful about status updates, wall posts, and comments. Remember that once they post something, it’s out of their hands. Future employers may have access to your page.

- If in doubt, take it out. Use the “Remove Post” button to take down risky posts.

- Self-reflect before you self-reveal: Remember to think about who will be seeing your posts and comments before you post them. You may need time to cool off and think about the situation.

- “Friend” younger teens. Some teens don’t understand they’re creating a digital footprint. Help them understand how to use it safely. Keep in mind that kids can block you from seeing things so check in with them too.

- Talk to your high school teens about whether they’re comfortable letting you “friend” them: Many will be. But if you are your teen’s friend, don’t fill their page with comments, and don’t “friend” his/her friends. Many parents say Facebook is the only way they know what’s going on in their teens’ life, so tread cautiously.

- Choose your battles: You’ll see the good, the bad, and the truly unfathomable. If you don’t want your teens to unfriend you, don’t ask them about every transgression. Keep it general.

We ask that you and your teens review this page to reach a greater understanding of social networking sites and how to run them safely. The internet is a very public place and you create a digital footprint with whatever you do. By using these simple tips you will generate a positive footprint for you and your teens to model theirs after. We have included some extra websites to help you further understand social networking, its effects, and how to run it privately.

Balancing Screen Time:  http://www.ikeepsafe.org/category/balancing-screen-time/

Tips for parents about Facebook:  http://www.commonsensemedia.org/advice-for-parents/facebook-parents

How to prevent cyberbullying of your child: http://www.ikeepsafe.org/parenting/changing-tides-cyberbullying-prevention/

How to get a handle on Facebook privacy settings: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/advice-for-parents/how-get-handle-facebooks-privacy-settings

Digital Influence/Popularity: http://www.ikeepsafe.org/digital-citizenship-2/digital-popularity/

Facebook Newsletter for Parents: http://www.facebookforparents.org/newsletter.html

Digital Footprint:  http://cnettv.cnet.com/sizing-your-digital-footprint/9742-1_53-50111778.html

TO DOWNLOAD THIS INFORMATION CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK:  http://legacy.grandforksherald.com/pdfs/FACEBOOK%20AND%20INTERNET%20SAFETY%20FROM%20GF%20YOUTH%20COMMISSION.pdf

Note about the Grand Forks Youth Commission – The Youth Commission is a group of 24 young people between the ages of 14 and 18 who advise the Mayor’s Cabinet on Young People and advocate to the community on behalf of youth. The Youth Commission is a diverse group of youth representing many perspectives, ages and backgrounds. The Commission is an important way for youth to be actively involved in decisions of community entities that affect youth. Youth Commissioners develop leadership skills, encourage other young people to get involved, and voice the concerns and needs of our young people.  For more information on the Grand Forks Youth Commission visit:  http://www.grandforksgov.com/gfgov/home.nsf/Pages/Youth+Commission

Check out this related story in Friday’s Grand Forks Herald   SOCIAL MEDIA: Freedom to tweet?  http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/234344/

BullyBust “For Good” Video Contest

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The National School Climate Center’s nationwide BullyBust campaign and the blockbuster Broadway show, WICKED, are thrilled to announce the 2012 For Good Video Contest!

This is your chance to show how you are taking a stand against bullying and creating a community of positive upstanders! Share how youth and adults are working together at your school to help take a stand against bullying…for good.

In WICKED, Elphaba learns how to stand up for what is right. She defies gravity by overcoming the difficult challenges she faces and not letting the harassment and negativity of others bring her down.

Create a For Good/Upstander-themed video, showing how you and your school are being upstanders – people who stand up to bullying and become part of the solution to end harmful harassment, teasing, and violence in our nation’s schools.

Share your upstander message with the most creative, upbeat and positive video, and your school could be a winner! Get started now – Submission deadline is March 16th.

Grand Prize: The winning school will receive a $500.00 grant from BullyBust to support the continuation of their Upstander Alliance efforts, a special visit from select cast members of WICKED and much more!

Check out the  For Good contest homepage for contest rules and guidelines. Learn how to submit your Upstander video and view examples of other videos to get your project started. Click here for a very special message from Elphaba herself!  

BullyBust and WICKED want to wish everyone the best of luck and thank you all for your continued support!