Pretty in Pink, Synergy's SERVE Leadership Youth Council's annual campaign is back.
You may purchase a Pretty in Pink button as a donation to the cause! A button is only $2 for students and $5 for adults. A portion of the proceeds will go toward a charity that supports anti-bullying, while the other half will support future SERVE leadership initiatives. Purchase yours at some of your local schools or, visit the Synergy office from 10:00am - 5:00pm to make your purchase!
Wednesday, February 28, is Pink Shirt Day. It’s a day when people take a stand against bullying by wearing a pink shirt at school and at work to raise awareness of bullying issues. Bullying happens often at school, work and also on the Internet (cyberbullying). Here are some quick facts about bullying*:
- Canadian teachers ranked cyberbullying as their issue of highest concern
- Over half of bullied children do not report being bullied to a teacher
- Since 2002, fighting behaviour has increased, especially in grades six to eight. As many as 18 per cent of boys and 8 per cent of girls report having been in four or more fights in the past year
- Boys are more likely to experience direct forms of bullying (physical aggression) while girls experience more indirect forms of bullying including cyberbullying.
- For boys, bullying behaviour peaks in grade nine at 47 per cent, while it peaks for girls in grades six, eight and nine at 37 per cent.
- Over 80 per cent of the time, bullying happens with peers around —and 57 per cent of the time, bullying stops within 10 seconds when a bystander steps in.
* For more facts and statistics head to redcross.ca
What is Bullying?
Bullying is a form of aggression where there is a power imbalance; the person doing the bullying has power over the person being victimized. In addition to any physical trauma incurred, bullying can result in serious emotional problems, including anxiety, low self-esteem, or depression.
Types of Bullying
- Physical bullying: using physical force or aggression against another person (e.g., hitting)
- Verbal bullying: using words to verbally attack someone (e.g., name-calling)
- Social/relational bullying: trying to hurt someone by excluding them, spreading rumours or ignoring them (e.g., gossiping)
- Cyberbullying: using electronic media to threaten, embarrass, intimidate, or exclude someone, or to damage their reputation (e.g., sending threatening text messages).
Information courtesy of Red Cross Canada
How do we stop Bullying?
Bullying stops when we intervene. It only takes 10 seconds to stop an incident of bullying. Bullying stops when it’s accepted that everyone is different, and should be respected for those differences. Imagine how boring this world would be if everyone was the same! As parents, it’s our job to educate our children about bullying. The American Psychological Association gives some tips on how teachers, parents, and students can prevent bullying.
For additional resources on bullying, and how to get help or take action, please visit the Pink Shirt Day website.
Learn:
- Boys & Girls Club
- Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland
- erase discrimination: SOGI (Sexual Orientation and General Identity)
- Stigma-Free Society
- YWCA
- YMCA
- Sit With Us (a mobile app that is designed to promote a kinder and more inclusive school community)
- PREVNet (Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network)
- LGBTQ+ Cyberbullying Guide
- Dark Cloud: The High Cost of Cyberbullying (Documentary & Educational Guide)
- Red Cross Canada
- Canadian Red Cross
Information courtesy of Pink Shirt Day
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Macaroni KID Chestermere is a free local event and activities calendar, weekly e-newsletter and website focused on fun family events and information in the Chestermere, Langdon, Indus and surrounding rural areas. We gather all kinds of local family events and activities each week and add useful information about classes, family-focused local businesses, recipes, crafts, school and camp guides and more. | ||
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Are we missing something? Please use our Submit an Event form to send us all the details! If you have original recipes, crafts, or family fall fun ideas that you would like to share with our Macaroni KID community, please email kimmcrae@macaronikid.com. Be sure to include a poster or image if you've got one!
