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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, November 20, 2013 | 6 Say no to bullying It's well past time to get tough with bullies. Not to ght back, but to forever change the playing eld where bullying is no longer part of the equation. Such is the effort of a whole lot of folks this week as Ontario schools mark Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week, Nov. 18-22. Both the Halton District School Board (HDSB) and Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) have activities and initiatives planned for this week -- and beyond. Leading up to this week, public school teachers and administrators participated in a Safe and Inclusive Schools Conference. Led by Dr. Wendy Craig, a Queen's University psychology professor and scienti c co-director of the Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network (PREVNet), the conference sought to give educators a better understanding of fostering positive relationships, all in a bid to reduce incidents of bullying and aggression. On Monday, the public board joined with Halton Regional Police to introduce the 2013 Give Respect, Get Respect movement at James W. Hill Public School. "We are rmly committed to ensuring all students and staff members can learn and work in a safe, inclusive environment, and have worked together with staff, student and parents to implement safe and inclusive school strategies," said David Euale, HDSB director of education. Other activities include an appearance in Milton of speaker Chris Vollum of Facebook 101, who will discuss the importance of respect, integrity and boundaries around social media use. Gladys Speers Public School is holding student focus groups on safety and belonging at school -- and gathering student feedback for sharing. Likewise, the Halton Catholic school board will join boards across Ontario in recognizing Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week. As part of its ongoing commitment, the board is working to implement a Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan, based on the Ministry of Education's `Model Plan', released in January, according to Jack Nigro, assistant superintendent of education and school services. Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week provides an opportunity for educators, students and parents to work together to prevent bullying in the classroom and on the playground. Through various initiatives including rallies, skits, posters, guest speakers and other creative activities, students will learn to identify different types of bullying. Our young people discover the dangers of cyberbullying and the myths and realities of bullying behaviour. They will be taught how to identify bullying and differentiate bullying from con ict, aggression and teasing. They will look at power and peer dynamics and identify how biases, prejudice and hate can lead to unacceptable behaviour. The local school boards have committed to eliminate bullying through the creation of a positive school climate. It's a step in the right direction as everyone has the right to be respected and everyone has the responsibility to respect others -- each and every day. For bullying prevention resources, visit the Ontario Ministry of Education's website at www.edu.gov.on.ca. Editorial C H I P P I N G I N "Connected to your Community" 447 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 51 | Number 138 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice ­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Halton Region Editor in Chief NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS Oakville's Fern Hill School presented a $53,102 cheque to the United Way of Oakville's (UWO) $4.35-million 2013 campaign, which runs until December. Here, from left, Nancy Joyce, Fern Hill; Michael O'Connor, chief marketing and enrolment of cer UWO education chair; Claire Stewart, Fern Hill student, Susan Kulkarni, UWO, student Samuel Weeks, Wendy Derrick, Fern Hill director, Oakville Mayor Rob Burton, and Ardith Connor of Fern Hill. | photo by Riziero Vertolli ­ Oakville Beaver Advertising Director DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production SANDY PARE MARK DILLS I am a 71-year-old senior and on Monday, Nov. 11, at 7 a.m., I was walking north on Third Line. As I crossed the Petro Canada Service Station parking lot at Third Line and Speers Road (my intention was to purchase a coffee at Tim Hortons) I tripped and fell, face down, breaking my glasses. A gentleman entering the service station store saw me. He helped me into the store, Senior says thanks to the kind gentleman Letter to the Editor MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution took me to the washroom and helped clean up my face. He asked if I would like him to call an ambulance. As I live ve minutes away, I declined. I did not get this gentleman's name. I hope he reads this note of thanks. A real gentleman. Gillian Oreto, Oakville CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Trustees invited to see results of their decisions Re: Heritage Glen P .S. needs classrooms, Oakville Beaver, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013. I am a parent of two children at Heritage Glen Public School. As a result of boundary reviews in 2011/12, it became a dual-track school. On a positive, we welcomed back many children from our neighbourhood into the French Immersion program, who had previously been bused to other schools. We have also seen many changes in the past year that have impacted upon our children and community that are not for the better. It appears this will get worse for not only our school but many schools within Halton in the near future. If the Halton District School Board were to implement any of the following: capping the French Immersion program, creating more dual- track schools in Ward 4 or reducing the French Immersion boundary for our school to re ect the English boundary, then Heritage Glen would be able to cope with its increased internal numbers across all grades this year, as well as managing a viable French Immersion and English program. There are many empty-nesters in this area, who are now selling and downsizing and as a result, younger families are moving into this neighbourhood. Has the board taken into consideration, as well as all the new houses planned to be built in this area, which will surely impact upon enrolment numbers at Palermo, Captain R. Wilson and Heritage Glen schools? see Public on p.12 Proud Official Media Sponsor For: The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to: The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to; ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline.