The Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan Watertown Public Schools December 2010

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

Time Lines May 2010 May 2010 Law Passed Law Passed Sept. 30, 2010 Sept. 30, 2010 Model Plan due to school systems from DESE Model Plan due to school systems from DESE December 31, 2010 December 31, 2010 District Plan due to DESE District Plan due to DESE

What has happened in between May and NOW Advisory Committee formed Advisory Committee formed Under the auspices of Assistant Superintendant, Dr. Jean Fitzgerald Under the auspices of Assistant Superintendant, Dr. Jean Fitzgerald “Peaceful Schools, Peaceful Community Advisory” “Peaceful Schools, Peaceful Community Advisory” Chairs: Chairs: Barbara Gortych, Coordinator of Assessment & Guidance K-12 Barbara Gortych, Coordinator of Assessment & Guidance K-12 Jason DelPorto, Middle School Assistant Principal Jason DelPorto, Middle School Assistant Principal

Committee members from: Watertown Boys and Girls Club Watertown Education Foundation Watertown Police Department Watertown Recreation Department Wayside Youth & Family Support Network World in Watertown Watertown Schools Cunniff Principal Cunniff Principal Lowell Teacher Hosmer PTO President WHS Director of Athletics Two High School Students District Information Systems Specialist District Information Systems Specialist

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

Review/Revisions of Draft Plan November 10, 2010 November 10, 2010 Draft ed to Committee Members Draft ed to Committee Members November 17, 2010 November 17, 2010 Review at full Committee meeting Review at full Committee meeting December 1, 2010 December 1, 2010 Draft available to principals for review and feedback Draft available to principals for review and feedback December 2, 2010 December 2, 2010 Draft reviewed for Teaching and Learning Council meeting Draft reviewed for Teaching and Learning Council meeting December 6, 2010 December 6, 2010 Review by School Committee Review by School Committee After December 6, 2010 After December 6, 2010 Anti-bullying website available for Public Review/Comment Anti-bullying website available for Public Review/Comment

The Plan: Major Areas 1. Reporting/Responding 1. Reporting/Responding 2. Curriculum 2. Curriculum 3. Training 3. Training 4. Community Education/Culture Change 4. Community Education/Culture Change

Reporting Behavioral incidents will be reported to Principal Behavioral incidents will be reported to Principal Electronically or on paper Electronically or on paper On line, via the Website On line, via the Website Can be done anonymously Can be done anonymously Principal investigates, decides if bullying occurred Principal investigates, decides if bullying occurred

Response to Bullying Behavior Principal initiates responses: Principal initiates responses: 1. Possible disciplinary consequence for Aggressor 1. Possible disciplinary consequence for Aggressor 2. Safety Plan for Target 2. Safety Plan for Target 3. Emotional/behavioral support for either or both 3. Emotional/behavioral support for either or both

Response, cont’d Principal must also Principal must also Call parents and inform Call parents and inform Decide if police involvement is needed Decide if police involvement is needed

Anti-bullying Curriculum Elementary: Elementary: Caring Schools, Caring Community Caring Schools, Caring Community Middle School: Middle School: Let’s Get Real Let’s Get Real High School: High School: Olweus Bullying Prevention Program Olweus Bullying Prevention Program

Training Prior to Dec. 1, 2010 Prior to Dec. 1, 2010 Summer Workshops for Administrators Summer Workshops for Administrators Training of MS & HS Staff on new Law in Sept Training of MS & HS Staff on new Law in Sept Training of Elementary Staff in new anti- bullying curriculum in Sept Training of Elementary Staff in new anti- bullying curriculum in Sept Ongoing PD course through Wayside on changing community culture (“train the trainers” model) Ongoing PD course through Wayside on changing community culture (“train the trainers” model)

Training, cont’d In December In December Letter to all parents about the Plan, with a cc to the faculty Letter to all parents about the Plan, with a cc to the faculty

Training, Cont’d. After January 1, 2011 After January 1, 2011 Continued training for staff Continued training for staff Staff definition includes: Staff definition includes: Secretaries Secretaries Custodians Custodians Coaches Coaches Volunteers Volunteers Bus & Cab Drivers Bus & Cab Drivers Cafeteria Workers Cafeteria Workers

Education/Community Change 2 Major Speakers this year: 2 Major Speakers this year: 2 Events each 2 Events each For Parents/Community For Parents/Community For Students For Students

Michael Thompson, Author Raising Cain & Best Friends, Worst Enemies Staff: Staff: December 15 December 15 2:45-3:45 2:45-3:45 Middle School Auditorium Middle School Auditorium Parents/Community Parents/Community 6:30-8:30 6:30-8:30 Middle School Auditorium Middle School Auditorium

Michael Tomlin, Psychologist “You Don’t Know Me Until You Know Me” March 31, 2011 March 31, 2011 Morning Presentation Morning Presentation 9 & 10 th graders 9 & 10 th graders Afternoon Presentation Afternoon Presentation Parents, Staff Community Parents, Staff Community

Film series/discussion Watertown Library Sponsored by the World in Watertown Sponsored by the World in Watertown Details: TBA Details: TBA

Special Note: Theme/Tag Line Peg Kelly, Marketing Professional from Watertown Savings Bank Peg Kelly, Marketing Professional from Watertown Savings Bank Has been working with a subgroup of the Advisory Committee Has been working with a subgroup of the Advisory Committee To devise a Name and Tag Line that will be used with all events around Anti-bullying To devise a Name and Tag Line that will be used with all events around Anti-bullying Presently in progress Presently in progress

Website Public invited to comment Link from District Homepage Link will be available on Monday, Dec 13th