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Bullying Prevention Month 2021
National Bullying Prevention Month in Alexandria will be kicked off at the City Council legislative meeting on Tuesday, October 12, at 7 p.m. with the presentation of a proclamation by Mayor Justin Wilson. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bullying Prevention Month activities are limited, but there are things everyone can do in recognition of Bullying Prevention Month. Check out weekly awareness and prevention tweets at @BullyFreeAlexVA (and post a photo wearing green, with the hashtag #BullyFreeStartsWithMe); get info from the
Bully Free Brochure; wear green on
Unity Days; and Alexandria City Public Schools students can participate in a
Red Ribbon Campaign Poster Contest on bullying awareness.
During October—and every month, declare your support for a bully-free Alexandria! Pledge your support and receive information and resources on how you can help reduce bullying. For more information, contact Mac Slover, Chair, at mac.slover29@outlook.com.
Cyberbullying Video - "Do You Remember What You Did?"
- Bullying Prevention Poster
- Take the Pledge! Pledge your support for a Bully-Free Alexandria. Email your completed forms to michael.johnson@alexandriava.gov
- Visit the Bully-Free Alexandria Twitter page—@BullyFreeAlexVA — wear green and post your photo with #BullyFreeStartsWithMe
- Unity Day Flyer — For all Alexandria youth and adults. Wear green and show your support for a Bully Free Alexandria! Hashtag your posts and photos with #BullyFreeStartsWithMe
- Bullying Prevention Month Calendar Flyer - events, information and resources
- Anti-Bullying Coloring Sheets — Bullying prevention messages for kids (and adults!) to color.
Bullying Prevention Month Event Partners
- Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy
- Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
- Senior Services of Alexandria
- 18th District Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court Service Unit
- Alexandria City Public Schools
- Alexandria Office of Communications and Public Information
- Alexandria Sheriff's Department
- Alexandria Police Department
- Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria
- Alexandria Health Department Teen Wellness Center
- Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria
Bully Free Brochure
This comprehensive brochure
describes the campaign’s goal; explains what bullying is; lists bullying’s effects; provides statistics describing the extent of bullying nationally and in Alexandria; lists responses to bullying activity; and explains how to report bullying.
Red Ribbon Campaign Poster Contest 2021
The Red Ribbon Campaign is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation. This year's theme is "Be Happy. Be Brave. Be Drug Free." In partnership with the ACPS FACE Center, SCAN of Northern Virginia and the Mayor’s Campaign to End Bullying, Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA), is excited to once again bring the campaign to Alexandria this year!
It takes a community to teach prevention. How will you celebrate Red Ribbon Week, October 23-31, this fall? Visit the SAPCA website for tips and ideas, including information about this year's Red Ribbon Poster Contest!Upcoming Meetings and Events
Background
Question? What are the four types of bullying? Verbal, Physical, Social & Cyberbullying
Since the inception of the Mayor's Campaign to End Bullying in Alexandria in 2014, the City government agencies, City's public schools, community organizations, youth and senior citizen leaders and residents have worked together to increase the awareness of the negative effects of bullying and prevent bullying among Alexandria's youth and adults.
The Mayors Campaign to End Bullying is a national movement spearheaded by the National Conference of Mayor’s to improve the community and school climate and improve the quality of life for all. Alexandria (under former Mayor Euille) joined this effort in 2014. Supported by former Mayor Silberberg, current Mayor Justin Wilson, past and present City Council members. The bullying issue takes everyone to communicate in an open and on-blaming tone that is focused on building positive relationships and working together to support each other.
In the Commonwealth of Virginia, bullying is defined as "any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma. "Bullying" includes cyber bullying. "Bullying" does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict.
Nationally, 71% of students report incidents of bullying as a problem at their schools, and more than 3.2 million students are victims of bullying each year. Data from the 2017 Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) Youth Risk Behavior Survey show that 13% of high school students reported being bullied on school property and 10% reported being bullied electronically. Of middle school students, 25% reported being bullied on school property and 13% reported being bullied online. Membership in either bully or victim groups is associated with dropping out of school, poor social development, criminal activity and other negative long-term consequences.
Bullying affects everyone, from youth to older adults. Approximately 1 in 10 Americans aged 60+ have experienced some form of elder abuse. As many as 1 in 5 senior citizens is the victim of verbal or physical abuse often by other seniors. Some estimates range as high as 5 million elders who are abused each year. One study estimated that only 1 in 14 cases of abuse are reported to authorities. Abusers are both women and men. In almost 60% of elder abuse and neglect incidents, the perpetrator is a family member. Two-thirds of perpetrators are adult children or spouses.
A proclamation announced the start of the Mayor's Campaign to End Bullying in Alexandria in 2014. The purpose of the campaign, sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, is to wipe out bullying in our nation's schools and communities. Alexandria has joined more than 170 jurisdictions from around the country who have signed on to the campaign to raise awareness, foster a safe school climate, end bullying in schools and communities, and encourage everyone to take a stand against bullying.
Since the inception of the Mayor's Campaign to End Bullying in Alexandria, the City's public schools, City government agencies, community organizations, youth leaders and residents have worked together to increase the awareness of the negative effects of bullying and prevent bullying among Alexandria's youth.
Photo Gallery
Bully Free Girls Summer Clinic
Miracle Baseball League of Alexandria (Adults Therapeutic Recreation)
Recreation Department Staff
City Council Proclamation
Team Court Service Unit Joins Bully Prevention Day at the Courthouse
Bullying Prevention in Alexandria City Public Schools
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is strongly committed to creating a safe, positive school environment in which the academic performance, social, emotional and physical well-being of all students is supported. The ACPS Office of Equity and Cultural Competence, in conjunction with the Office of Student Services, provides programs and staff that promote healthy, caring, and responsible behaviors among students. Learn more about bullying and resources for bullying prevention and cyber safety.
The Mayor's Campaign to End Bullying Planning Committee
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More Information
- 2019 Bullying Prevention Month Content
- Initial Project Timeline, Meetings, and Benchmarks
- The Bully Project: Take the pledge, join the movement!
- Facing History: Excerpts from the Film Bully
- John Adams Students Create Anti-Bullying Music Video
- Video: John Adams School – "No Bully Zone!"
- Alexandria City Public Schools: Anti-Bullying Facts
- Alexandria City Public Schools: Information on Bullying
- Presentation: Social Media and Kids: A Staff and Parent Training on Text Messaging, Social Media, and Cyber-Bullying
To address concerns about bullying or to report a bullying incident, please inform your school's principal.
To report senior abuse, contact the Adult Protective Services 24 hours/day. All reports are anonymous. 703.746.5999
Contact Alexandria Safe Place at 703.746.5400 for 24-hour access to immediate help and support for young people (ages 5-18) in crisis or call Michael Johnson at 703.746.5571.
To report a life-threatening emergency or situation, please call 911.
For media inquiries, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at 703.746.3959.