La Cañada parents learn more about bullying at PTA workshop
La Cañada middle and high school parents heard the latest research and advice on bullying behavior during an open forum held on the La Cañada High campus Oct. 15. Hosted by the PTA, the workshop aided in the slate of student-based activities for the 7/8 Stand-up! antibullying week in the district.
Several of the 40 parents who turned out for the event shared how bullying affects their child’s life. Invited speakers and school counselors covered a wide variety of resources in promoting positive attitudes while also protecting children from high-risk behaviors.
“I was shocked at all the social media stuff I didn’t know,” said parent Danetta Barton. “I wish more parents came. I’m impressed they put it together.”
To kick off the week, students participated in a variety of activities to target character development and bully prevention. However, a student-led pep rally about antibullying, something that’s become a staple awareness event in many school districts, was not enough programming to address the issue, according to the PTA.
To make a marked decrease in student bullying, parents and adults need to be connecting in a meaningful way, according to Shelby Grey, coordinator of 7/8 Stand-up!
“Take the emphasis off the bully,” she said about changing the title of the event to 7/8 Stand-up! “Kids don’t want to be identified as the victim of a bully.”
Geoff McLachlan, a motivational speaker and founder of the Ovation Co., told the audience that students tell him things about daily stress at school that they don’t tell parents or teachers. He is a father of 6- and 3-year-old sons.
“I want to create a support system for my kids for those ‘in between’ years,” he said. McLachman gave examples of spicing up dialogue with your teenager, such as when a student gives the universal answer “nothing happened” when a parent asked how their day was, McLachlan advised to reply “tell me more.” And when a teen answers “I don’t know” to a similar question from an adult, he advises to counter with “What if you did know?”
“They will open up,” he said.
Melissa Kukta, 9-12 counselor; Shannon Brascia, 7/8 counselor, and Allison Dalbeck, 7/8 counselor addressed parents’ concerns during the question-and-answer portion of the workshop.
“Not every kid can deal with the stigma of having to work through a situation to come to us,” Kukta said of student bullying. “If you come to us with a problem, we’ll help you get a solution.”
Jarret Gold, LCHS 7/8 principal, said resources and links shown during the workshop will be made available on the school district’s website, lcusd.net.
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Matt Sanderson is a contributing writer.