Reporting Student Bullying and Harassment: An Action Plan for Parents

Reporting Student Bullying and Harassment: An Action Plan for Parents
Concerned about how to take action and what to expect if you report your child/teen is a target, bystander or a perpetrator of bullying ? This presentation is for you

When: Thursday, 20 February 2020 at 7:00 PM
Where: 1580 West Broadway - Vancouver, BC V6J 5K9 - Canada

Register here if you would like to attend

Facilitator: Paula Temrick, DPAC Executive Member
Speakers’ Panel: Mozhdah and Nasrin Jamalzadah, VSB District + School Staff

Concerned about how to take action and what to expect if you report your child/teen is a target, bystander or a perpetrator of bullying or harassment at school?
Are you:

• Doubting Your Concern – ‘Maybe it’s not serious enough to report’;
• Hesitant - ‘What if I’m not taken seriously’;
• Anxious - ‘If the perpetrator(s) find out, my child will get bullied even more;
• Afraid -‘I think my child/teen is a perpetrator but I don’t dare tell the school.’
• Nervous -‘If I say anything my teen will be furious and never tell me anything again’;
• Worried - ‘But If I do nothing my child may be seriously traumatized.’;
• Discouraged - ‘Why bother? Last time I reported no one at school even thought to follow up with me.’

This program will address these concerns in a panel presentation and discussion with participants. Information and strategies shared will help build parents’ confidence, knowledge and ability to:

• Be a Supportive Parent – how to connect - listen, talk and problem-solve with your child/teen
• Understand and Assess what is happening and when you need to speak-up or seek out an advocate
• Document – what is most important to write up and bring to your school’s attention
• Meet With School Staff – who to talk to, how to approach, what to say, questions to ask, follow-up
• Find Out About Intervention - how school staff plan to investigate, intervention options, supports for students, consequences for perpetrators, what staff can and cannot disclose
• Assess Next Steps should you be dissatisfied with your school’s intervention or support for your child

Our evening will end with a healing circle of song, hope and inspiration.
Guest Speakers:
Mozhdah Jamalzadah – singer/songwriter, broadcaster and fierce feminist, Mozhdah began her life in Vancouver as an Afghanistan refugee in the 90’s. Throughout her life at school Mozhdah was a victim of serious bullying and harassment. Mozhdah will speak to how she was impacted, how she survived and how she triumphed to become in her twenties, a sought after speaker, singer, host of the ‘Mozhdah Show’ in Afghanistan and, the first Afghan to be invited by Michelle Obama to sing at the White House. A biography of Mozhdah’s life has most recently been published in the book, ‘Voice of Rebellion’ by Roberta Staley. Mozhdah will be accompanied by her mother, Nasrin Jamalzadah who will speak to the steps she took to protect her daughter’s emotional and physical safety growing up.
Paula Temrick – DPAC Executive Member, former Magee PAC Chair and parent of 2 internationally adopted children. Her education and career spans broadcast communications, counselling and training as a conflict resolution specialist at the Justice Institute of BC. Paula worked extensively in the 90’s training educators, students and parents in Bullying and Harassment Prevention and Intervention at the Justice Institute and, for BC, Toronto and Washington schools. Paula continues her passion for social justice working in affordable housing and as an organization development consultant - facilitator, coach and trainer for government, public and private sector business.
Light refreshments will be provided. Please bring your own water bottle or non-alcoholic beverage.
All parents of students enrolled in the Vancouver school district are welcome to attend. Please register at least 48 hours ahead of time if you require childcare for this meeting.
Parking for attending DPAC meetings is complementary, provided you park in one of the designated VSB visitor parking spots in the parkade which are located on the lowest level. The parkade is located off the southeast intersection of Fir Street at West Broadway. You must register your name and vehicle license plate number in the parking registry located on the Ground Floor of the Education Centre building around the corner from the reception desk towards the Board Room. The registry is used for parking validation purposes only.

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