![Superintendent Mike Pero.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1718123687/pittsfordschoolsorg/pcakolf8znvlftdy14qh/PeroMikeforweb.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1718123687/pittsfordschoolsorg/pcakolf8znvlftdy14qh/PeroMikeforweb.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1718123687/pittsfordschoolsorg/pcakolf8znvlftdy14qh/PeroMikeforweb.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1718123687/pittsfordschoolsorg/pcakolf8znvlftdy14qh/PeroMikeforweb.jpg","width":857}])
A Message from Superintendent Pero: October is National Bullying Prevention Month
October is National Bullying Prevention Month, an opportunity to join together to create a world that is kind, accepting, and inclusive.
Bullying isn’t a childhood rite of passage; it has real implications for our children’s education, health, and safety, now and well into their future. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, one out of every five students report being bullied each year, which research shows can have negative effects that can last a lifetime. Bullying can include unwanted aggressive behavior, observed or perceived power imbalance, and repetition or a high likelihood of repetition of negative or harmful behaviors.
Common types of bullying include physical, such as hitting, kicking, and tripping; verbal, including name-calling and teasing; relational/social, such as spreading rumors and leaving someone out of the group; or damage to the property of the victim. Cyberbullying can also occur through the use of technology.
Bullying can directly affect a student’s ability to learn. They may find it difficult to concentrate, show a decline in grades, and lose self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-worth. Students who are bullied often do not want to go to school. They will report more physical symptoms than other students, such as headaches or stomachaches, and mental health issues such as depression or anxiety.
Bullying is not just a school issue and can occur wherever youth come together: youth groups, athletic and academic competitions, neighborhoods, and online. Having a safe, supportive school environment can help prevent bullying.
Please review the resources below for more information on preventing bullying:
- Fast Fact: Preventing Bullying | CDC
- stopbullying.gov | US Department of Health and Human Services
- National Bullying Prevention Center (pacer.org)
- Bullying Help: Resources and Partners | Learning for Justice
If you need help reporting bullying at Pittsford Schools, please contact your child’s school counselor or principal. You can also find more information on the Dignity for All Students Act, including an online reporting tool at: Student Services / Dignity for All Students Act.