November 6, 2020
The Safe and Accepting Schools branch of Near North District School Board is pleased to be teaming up with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P) to provide resources for parents and students during the annual Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week.
On Wednesday, November 18, 2020 from 6:30-7:30pm, parents are invited to attend a Zoom presentation that will speak directly to the emerging risks and trends seen through the C3P’s operation of Canada’s tipline to report online sexual exploitation of children – Cybertip.ca. These trends include things such as an 81% increase in reports regarding online child abuse and exploitation since the onset of COVID-19, content children and youth are exposed to online, contact with others online, and the public nature of the internet including the creation and sharing of material, and the loss of control of that material.
In a time when children are online more than ever before, it is crucial that parents talk to their kids about online safety. Through developmentally appropriate methods for both children (ages 8-12) and youth (ages 13-17), parents will learn how to help their kids understand what to do when they see harmful content, and how to ‘flip’ conversations so that kids feel supported, not scrutinized. Parents can learn how to talk to their kids about these difficult topics with confidence. To register, simply email safe.schools@nearnorthschools.ca; the Zoom link and password will be provided to registrants the week of November 16, 2020.
During Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week (November 16-20, 2020) students and teachers will begin to explore other resources provided by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection. Through a generous donation provided by the Kenora Sexual Assault Centre, all NNDSB students will be receiving booklets published by C3P regarding safety habits, healthy vs. unhealthy relationships, how to set boundaries, getting out of uncomfortable situations, and seeking help from a safe adult. Also thanks to C3P, elementary and secondary teachers will gain free access to online resources, lesson plans and videos that provide researched, evidence-based tools that they can use to build the confidence and competence that our students need to navigate the virtual world safely.
Near North District School Board is an English-language public school board serving the North Bay – Parry Sound – Nipissing area. The Board consists of approximately 10,000 students in 27 elementary schools, seven secondary/senior schools and various alternative learning centres. For more information, please visit nearnorthschools.ca and follow Near North District School Board on social media.
