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POMPTON LAKES - School Violence Awareness week is recognized
(by Leslie Scott - Staff Writer - October 22, 2008)
POMPTON LAKES - Keeping students at ease is one goal behind School Violence Awareness Week, Oct. 20-24.
Schools in Pompton Lakes are using this time to hold special programs that will discuss ways to curb violence and address other issues to which teens are often subjected.
During the Oct. 14 school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Terrance Brennan explained that programs would be geared toward every level in the district.
At the high school, brochures will be handed out to students that will focus on different topics including dating violence, self-mutilation and school and gang violence.
“The brochures will define and issue early warning signs and site resources that students may access for assistance,” said Brennan.
At Lakeside Middle School, students will respond to open ended writing prompts that focus on bullying and teaching violence.
There will also be an assembly that will be directed on the topic of "mean girls" to middle school students.
“This will talk about tolerance, excluding others and the forming of cliques,” said Brennan.
During this week, students in kindergarten, first and second grades will practice making positive non-violent situations under different circumstances.
Students in grades third through five will watch a movie titled "No More Baths," which teaches about being unified, power in numbers and how to get your message across in a non-violent manner, Guidance Counselor Sheryl Bender said.
At the Lenox and Lincoln schools, Bender said, said her department would be teaching character education throughout the year. This program focuses on social values and respecting others, which also encompasses non-violence, Bender explained.
During the board meeting, the superintendent also reviewed the violence and vandalism report for the 2007-08 school year. The superintendent explained that in the elementary schools there were no incidents of violence or vandalism reported.
At the middle school there was one fight and two reports of vandalism, which includes one theft and one bomb threat. Brennan said the bomb threat was reported to the police and a complaint was filed.
At the high school there were 13 fights, two incidents of harassment or bullying, and five substance abuse reports that were filed with the Police Department. Brennan said four of the substance abuse calls were reports of marijuana use and one was for possession of marijuana.
There were also two reports of theft and one bomb threat at the high school.
Brennan said one good thing about this report was there were no alcoholic related incidents.
“I think that is something to be proud of because in the past I could never report that. But this year I can so that’s good for the high school,” he said.
Vincent Przybylinski, high school principal, said the reports at the high school sound worse on paper because many of fights were not serious at all.
“In terms of knock-down or drag-down fights, I can count those on one hand,” said the principal.
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