This is Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week (Nov. 16-20) and resources are being provided through the Near North District School Board’s Safe and Accepting Schools branch.

Parents are invited to a Zoom presentation Wednesday evening on emerging risks and trends seen through Cybertip.ca, the Canadian Centre for Child Protection’s tipline to report online sexual exploitation of children.

Trends include things like 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..

The session goes from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

To register, simply email safe.schools@nearnorthschools.ca; the Zoom link and password will be provided to registrants the week of November 16th.

Officials also say during Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week students and teachers will begin to explore other resources provided by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P).

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.

(File photo by station staff)

Filed under: Near North District School Board