Date: Thu, 10 May 2012 14:34:14 -0400
From: Cindy Lodestro
Subject: Bully Prevention Task Force Hosts Summit
The Chatham County Bully Prevention Task Force will host a summit on Tuesday, May 22 from 6:00 – 7:30 at the Central Carolina Community College Multi- Purpose Room in Pittsboro, and we invite and encourage attendance for all parents, students, teachers, administrators and community members who would like to learn more about the effects of bullying and how you can become an active participant in the effort to stop bullying in our schools and community.
The Task Force was formed in response to bullying and bullying like behaviors that were being recognized and reported throughout our schools and at all grade levels, although most incidents go unreported or are not recognized.
Bullying takes a serious physical and emotional toll on our children whether exhibited by them “acting out”, emotionally shutting down, withdrawing into themselves, drops in performance, reported illness / absenteeism from school and more,” said Cindy Lodestro, Co -chair of the Bullying Prevention Task Force.
We have met all year to develop strategies in the schools, and now want to bring the knowledge we have acquired and the strategies we have begun implementing to the community,” stated Erica Perlow, Co-chair of the Bullying Prevention Task Force.
The summit will begin with dinner generously provided by the owners of the Mediterranean Deli and 411 West. The agenda includes an introduction to the work of the task force, *continued with some Stop Action Role Plays by students in which the audience will be able to ask questions of the actors. *The evening will conclude with a keynote speech by Tyronna Hooker, North Carolina Teacher of the Year. Ms. Hooker has been gracious in not only helping us plan the summit, but in volunteering to speak to us about a topic that is near and dear to her heart.
The Chatham County Bully Prevention Task force began meeting in January 2011. During the following months, five community meetings were held, with over 100 people participating in brainstorming activities that resulted in a compilation of strategies that helped develop a work plan now incorporated in to all schools.
Additional information about the summit is available by calling George Greger-Holt, 919.542.6400 or by accessing the Chatham County Schools Bully Prevention website at Chatham County Schools – Student
Services<http://student-
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