Upper Grand introduces online bullying reporting tool
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
October 15, 2013
GUELPH, Ontario — Students have a new way of reporting bullying incidents in the Upper Grand District School Board.
“Report Bullying”, an online bullying reporting tool, is now available to students in every grade. The tool was designed to be user-friendly for both web browsers and mobile devices such as smartphones.
The tool can be accessed at www.ugdsb.ca/reportbullying. A bright pink “Report Bullying” button is now on the board’s website, and will appear on every school website.
“We know that some students are too nervous or afraid to speak to an adult when they’ve been the victim of bullying,” said Bonnie Talbot, Superintendent of Education responsible for the board’s Safe and Inclusive Schools initiative.
“Children and teens who suffer from bullying often feel isolated and alone, especially if the bullying has been going on for some time. We’re hoping this online tool will make it easier for kids to reach out and let an adult in authority know when there’s a problem.”
The online bullying reporting tool will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This means that students – victims or witnesses – can report incidents at any time, from anywhere. The tool also allows students to report bullying anonymously, if they choose.
“If the student does identify themselves, that will likely help with school principal’s investigation of the incident,” said Talbot, “but we’d rather receive an anonymous report than hear nothing at all.”
Parents are also welcome to use the tool, either to report incidents they have witnessed themselves, or by passing on second-hand accounts from younger children.
Upper Grand students using the online reporting tool select their school from a list, identify the type of bullying (physical, verbal, cyber or emotional), provide details about the incident, and optionally provide their contact information. Reports go directly to the school principal for follow-up.
“It is important for students and parents to understand that the online reporting tool is not for emergencies,” said Talbot. “If someone is in immediate danger of being hurt, a call should be placed to 911. If it’s outside of school hours and a student feels the need to talk to someone, there are counselors at Kids Help Phone around the clock.”
The Report Bullying online reporting tool is just one of the initiatives UGDSB is taking to create safe and inclusive school environments. Every school has a Safe Schools Team, and a Bullying Prevention Plan posted on the school website. This fall schools will be conducting “climate” surveys of students and parents.
Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week in Ontario is November 17-23, 2013. UGDSB schools and school councils are busily developing a wide variety of activities and events that will draw attention to the different forms bullying can take. These include:
- Physical – hitting, shoving, stealing or damaging property
- Verbal – name calling, mocking, or making sexist, racist or homophobic comments
- Social – excluding others from a group or spreading gossip or rumours about them
- Cyberbullying – spreading rumours and hurtful comments through the use of cellphones, e-mail, text messaging and social networking sites
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Report Bullying Online Reporting Tool
www.ugdsb.ca/reportbullying
Report Bullying Online Reporting Tool User Manual (PDF)
www.ugdsb.ca/uploadedFiles/bullytool-user-manual-web.pdf
Safe, Equitable and Inclusive Schools
www.ugdsb.ca/program
Kids Help Phone
kidshelpphone.ca, 1-800-668-6868
For more information:
Maggie McFadzen, Communications Officer
519-822-4420 ext.725
[email protected]
Mark Weidmark, Administrative Officer – Communications
519-822-4420 ext.544
[email protected]
Categories: Media Releases