February 4, 2010
Dear Parent or Guardian,
As many of you are aware, bullying is a national problem facing all children in the country. The Wakefield Public Schools takes incidents of bullying seriously. Bullying among children and youth is more common than many adults realize. Studies show that between 15-25% of American students are bullied with some frequency. Incidents of bullying can lead to severe depression in children. The safety and emotional well being of your child is of the utmost importance to us.
Some of the signs of Bullying you should look for:
· coming home from school with torn or disheveled clothing, with damaged books
· having bruises, injuries, cuts, and scratches that cannot be given a natural explanation
· not wanting to go to school and finding excuses to stay at home (for example, feeling sick, repeated headaches or stomach pains particularly in the morning)
· wanting to go to school a different way to avoid the children who are bullying them, choosing an illogical route
· being very tense, tearful and unhappy after school
· talking about hating school or not having any friends
· refusing to tell you what happens at school
· not bringing classmates or other peers home after school and seldom spending time in the homes of others
· not having a single good friend to share free time with (playing, shopping, sports and musical events, chatting on the phone, etc.)
· rarely being invited to parties and may not be interested in arranging parties themselves (because they expect nobody wants to come)
· exhibiting restless sleep with bad dreams, crying in their sleep
· losing interest in school work and getting lower grades
· appearing unhappy, sad, depressed, or showing unexpected mood shifts with irritability and sudden outbursts of temper
· requesting or stealing extra money from family (to accommodate the bullies)
These signs may not necessarily mean your child is being bullied, however if present, you should have a conversation with your child. It is also important for you to have a conversation with your child about telling an adult if they know of another child being bullied.
In the meantime, parents should know that the Wakefield Public Schools takes bullying seriously and we are committed to continually reviewing its policies and practices in respect to bullying and harassment. Bullying seriously affects the lives of others. Through the cooperation of the Wakefield Community, we can address this serious issue affecting all of us.
Sincerely,
Joan Landers
Superintendent of Schools
