New Anti-Bullying System Will Lead to Investigations, Interventions

A Pasadena Unified administrator briefed the Board of Education Thursday about a plan to investigate and intervene in cases of bullying based on an anonymous text messaging service.

Eric Sahakian of the PUSD Child Welfare, Attendance and Safety Office said the new systematic approach to reporting incidents of bullying through Nixel text messaging software will lead to active response by his department.

The software will be available to all Elementary, Middle and High School students, parents, and teachers allowing them to anonymously text message Pasadena Unified’s office of child safety.

“This allows for immediate investigation and intervention. We’re looking forward to expanding this feature to all schools at the start of the second semester,” Sahakian said.

“The School district recognizes its responsibility to ensure the physical and secure the school environments for all students and staff,” Sahakian said in support of an anti-bullying resolution before the Board. “The resolution requests the PUSD to reaffirm its commitment to ensure safe and nurturing environments with appropriate measures.”

The Board passed the resolution recognizing October as National Anti-Bullying Month. All Pasadena Unified School District high schools will host Pasadena Week of Kindness, sponsored by Pasadena Youth Council starting October 14 to take a stand against bullying even on a small scale.

 

Pasadena Week of Kindness will coincide with the YWCA Week Without Violence the week of October 14-20. The Youth Council will support any middle and high school ASBs who wish to participate in the campaign with supplies as part of the city wide and district wide effort.

“We need to raise awareness about bullying in the PUSD school system. It is a real problem in our district. Students don’t feel safe, they feel bullied for lack of a better word. They question if they belong,” student board member representative Geraldo Rangel said.

Not only physical bullying is a problem, cyber bullying over the Internet is the easiest way for young students to cut down their peers and is Rangel’s main concern.

During Kindness week the students will have the following themed days:

Monday: Distribution of wristbands printed with “Pasadena Week of Kindness” as well as posters with statists highlight the need to bring awareness to a week without violence.

Tuesday: Go Teal Day—Teal is the color of anti-bullying and violence campaigns. Students should wear teal on this day.

Wednesday: Compliment Day—send a message of appreciation or praise to other students.

Thursday: Moment of Silence—Schools will designate a moment of silence for victims of violence.

Friday: Students will sign a pledge poster to stop cyber-bullying at a lunch rally where an anti-bullying program will be presented.