The Bullying Prevention and The Bullying Prevention and Intervention PlanIntervention Plan

Watertown Public SchoolsWatertown Public Schools

December 2010December 2010

Overall GoalOverall Goal

The most effective programs for The most effective programs for bullying prevention are based on bullying prevention are based on layers of intervention and education layers of intervention and education leading to community culture change leading to community culture change and the creation of a safer and more and the creation of a safer and more welcoming school environment for all welcoming school environment for all students.students.

Time LinesTime Lines

May 2010 May 2010 Law PassedLaw Passed

Sept. 30, 2010 Sept. 30, 2010 Model Plan due to school systems from Model Plan due to school systems from

DESEDESE December 31, 2010 December 31, 2010

District Plan due to DESEDistrict Plan due to DESE

What has happened in What has happened in between May and NOWbetween May and NOW

Advisory Committee formedAdvisory Committee formed Under the auspices of Assistant Under the auspices of Assistant

Superintendant, Dr. Jean FitzgeraldSuperintendant, Dr. Jean Fitzgerald ““Peaceful Schools, Peaceful Community Peaceful Schools, Peaceful Community

Advisory”Advisory” Chairs: Chairs:

Barbara Gortych, Coordinator of Assessment Barbara Gortych, Coordinator of Assessment & Guidance K-12& Guidance K-12

Jason DelPorto, Middle School Assistant Jason DelPorto, Middle School Assistant PrincipalPrincipal

Committee members from:Committee members from:

Watertown Boys and Girls ClubWatertown Boys and Girls ClubWatertown Education FoundationWatertown Education FoundationWatertown Police DepartmentWatertown Police DepartmentWatertown Recreation DepartmentWatertown Recreation DepartmentWayside Youth & Family Support NetworkWayside Youth & Family Support NetworkWorld in WatertownWorld in WatertownWatertown SchoolsWatertown Schools

Cunniff PrincipalCunniff PrincipalLowell TeacherLowell TeacherHosmer PTO PresidentHosmer PTO PresidentWHS Director of AthleticsWHS Director of AthleticsTwo High School StudentsTwo High School Students

District Information Systems SpecialistDistrict Information Systems Specialist

Committee Committee

Will continue to meet throughout the Will continue to meet throughout the year to:year to: Oversee the PlanOversee the Plan Evaluate and revise the Plan, as neededEvaluate and revise the Plan, as needed

Review/Revisions of Draft Review/Revisions of Draft PlanPlan

November 10, 2010November 10, 2010 Draft e-mailed to Committee MembersDraft e-mailed to Committee Members

November 17, 2010 November 17, 2010 Review at full Committee meetingReview at full Committee meeting

December 1, 2010December 1, 2010 Draft available to principals for review and feedbackDraft available to principals for review and feedback

December 2, 2010December 2, 2010 Draft reviewed for Teaching and Learning Council meetingDraft reviewed for Teaching and Learning Council meeting

December 6, 2010December 6, 2010 Review by School CommitteeReview by School Committee

After December 6, 2010After December 6, 2010 Anti-bullying website available for Public Review/CommentAnti-bullying website available for Public Review/Comment

The Plan:The Plan:Major AreasMajor Areas

1. Reporting/Responding1. Reporting/Responding 2. Curriculum2. Curriculum 3. Training3. Training 4. Community Education/Culture 4. Community Education/Culture

ChangeChange

ReportingReporting

Behavioral incidents will be reported Behavioral incidents will be reported to Principalto Principal Electronically or on paperElectronically or on paper On line, via the WebsiteOn line, via the Website Can be done anonymouslyCan be done anonymously

Principal investigates, decides if Principal investigates, decides if bullying occurredbullying occurred

Response to Bullying Response to Bullying BehaviorBehavior

Principal initiates responses:Principal initiates responses: 1. Possible disciplinary consequence for 1. Possible disciplinary consequence for

AggressorAggressor 2. Safety Plan for Target2. Safety Plan for Target 3. Emotional/behavioral support for 3. Emotional/behavioral support for

either or botheither or both

Response, cont’dResponse, cont’d

Principal must alsoPrincipal must also Call parents and informCall parents and inform Decide if police involvement is neededDecide if police involvement is needed

Anti-bullying CurriculumAnti-bullying Curriculum

Elementary:Elementary: Caring Schools, Caring CommunityCaring Schools, Caring Community

Middle School:Middle School: Let’s Get RealLet’s Get Real

High School:High School: Olweus Bullying Prevention ProgramOlweus Bullying Prevention Program

TrainingTraining

Prior to Dec. 1, 2010Prior to Dec. 1, 2010 Summer Workshops for AdministratorsSummer Workshops for Administrators Training of MS & HS Staff on new Law in Training of MS & HS Staff on new Law in

Sept. 2010Sept. 2010 Training of Elementary Staff in new anti-Training of Elementary Staff in new anti-

bullying curriculum in Sept. 2010bullying curriculum in Sept. 2010 Ongoing PD course through Wayside on Ongoing PD course through Wayside on

changing community culture (“train the changing community culture (“train the trainers” model)trainers” model)

Training, cont’dTraining, cont’d

In DecemberIn December Letter to all parents about the Plan, with Letter to all parents about the Plan, with

a cc to the facultya cc to the faculty

Training, Cont’d.Training, Cont’d.

After January 1, 2011After January 1, 2011 Continued training for staffContinued training for staff Staff definition includes:Staff definition includes:

SecretariesSecretaries CustodiansCustodians CoachesCoaches VolunteersVolunteers Bus & Cab DriversBus & Cab Drivers Cafeteria WorkersCafeteria Workers

Education/Community Education/Community ChangeChange

2 Major Speakers this year:2 Major Speakers this year: 2 Events each2 Events each

For Parents/CommunityFor Parents/Community For StudentsFor Students

Michael Thompson, AuthorMichael Thompson, AuthorRaising Cain & Best Friends, Raising Cain & Best Friends,

Worst EnemiesWorst Enemies Staff:Staff:

December 15December 15 2:45-3:452:45-3:45 Middle School AuditoriumMiddle School Auditorium

Parents/CommunityParents/Community 6:30-8:306:30-8:30 Middle School AuditoriumMiddle School Auditorium

Michael Tomlin, PsychologistMichael Tomlin, Psychologist“You Don’t Know Me Until You “You Don’t Know Me Until You

Know Me”Know Me” March 31, 2011March 31, 2011

Morning PresentationMorning Presentation 9 & 109 & 10thth graders graders

Afternoon PresentationAfternoon Presentation Parents, Staff CommunityParents, Staff Community

Film series/discussionFilm series/discussionWatertown LibraryWatertown Library

Sponsored by the World in Sponsored by the World in WatertownWatertown

Details: TBADetails: TBA

Special Note: Theme/Tag Special Note: Theme/Tag LineLine

Peg Kelly, Marketing Professional Peg Kelly, Marketing Professional from Watertown Savings Bankfrom Watertown Savings Bank Has been working with a subgroup of Has been working with a subgroup of

the Advisory Committeethe Advisory Committee To devise a Name and Tag Line that will To devise a Name and Tag Line that will

be used with all events around Anti-be used with all events around Anti-bullyingbullying

Presently in progressPresently in progress

WebsiteWebsite

Public invited to commentPublic invited to comment

Link from District HomepageLink from District Homepage

Link will be available on Monday, Dec Link will be available on Monday, Dec 13th13th