Released on November 20, 2013
The Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) has proclaimed November 18-22, as Anti-Bullying Week across the country. This week’s theme, The Future is Ours: Safe, Fun and Connected, calls on young people from across the nation to take the lead on creating a future without bullying – using new technologies to promote positive communication rather than being held back by cyberbullying.
“Bullying and cyberbullying affect the health and well-being of many children and youth across our province and our country,” Education Minister Don Morgan said. “The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to working youth, teachers, school division administrators and community organizations to build safe environments for children at school, in their communities and online.”
Morgan and Legislative Secretary Jennifer Campeau joined students, teachers, school division administrators and community organizations last week to release Saskatchewan’s Action Plan to Address Bullying and Cyberbullying.
The initial Student First Anti-Bullying Forum will be held next week to kick off the implementation of the action plan. The forum also builds on this year’s Anti-Bullying Week theme, providing an opportunity for youth across the province to reflect on their experiences with bullying, and help them learn more about appropriate and responsible online behaviour.
The ABA co-ordinates Anti-Bullying Week each November, and is the national voice that works to raise awareness of bullying and encourages everyone to work together to combat this issue.
“We know that there is already a lot of great work happening in schools across the province to address bullying and we need to shine a spotlight on this work,” Campeau said. “Together we can build on these examples to create consistency in the way we respond to bullying incidents, in hopes of creating safe environments for all of our children to live, grow, play and learn.”
One example of the great work happening in the province is at Melville Comprehensive High School where they are taking steps to combat bullying. To view their success story, please visit www.youtube.com/user/SKGov.
For more information on Anti-Bullying Week please visit www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/aba-week/key-aims.aspx.
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For more information, contact:
Leya Moore
Education
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1069
Email: leya.moore@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-533-7506