Bullying accounts for a big chunk of the stresses that our school children go through in school. Some of the sources of their stress are exams, lack of sleep, completion of requirements and more exams. With all these things related to the academics that they should be focusing on which also includes maintaining friendship, peer-to-peer relationships, managing schedules and doing some functional organizational tasks, being bullied is one they should not be thinking about. Aside from bullying, some schools have school violence issues as well.

How can one know that his/her child is being bullied? Here are several tell-tale signs that a child is being bullied:

• torn, damaged and missing school supplies, uniforms, and other things that belong to the child
• scratched and bruised body parts but child won’t disclose what happened
• has a few friends and refuses to join other school-related activities like clubs
• shows apprehensions in going to school or walking to and from school or riding the school bus
• if walking, takes a longer route from home to school or vice versa
• looks sad, depressed, tired, and not in the mood when child comes in from school
• complains of different aches just so he/she won’t go to school
• loss of appetite
• if there is packed lunch, food has been eaten but the child is hungry when he gets home
• has bad dreams or trouble sleeping
• has low self-esteem

These are signs that parents and guardians should look for if they think their child(ren) are being bullied.

Children who are being bullied in school do not usually say that they are being treated as such so it is best that parents take these steps to know what is happening:

• Talk to your child. You can either use direct questions: ” Are there any kids at school who may be picking on you or bullying you? saying mean things to you? “ or use a subtle approach: “Are there any kids at school who you like or really don’t like? Why do you like or don’t you like them? Do they ever pick on you or leave you out of things?”
• Set an appointment to talk to the school staff and report what you have observed with the child.

If the bullying still persist, perhaps it is time for the school to do something about the bullying episodes which may include not just your child but other children as well.

With bullying being rampant in the country as seen in this study of 2,442 children from 58 public schools in 3 provinces in the Visayas,it was found out that “At least 5 out of 10 children in Grades 1-3, 7 out of 10 in Grades 4-6, and 6 out of 10
in high school have experienced some kind of violence in school.”

Senator Miriam Santiago’s Senate Bill No. 2677 mandates all schools, whether public or private, including colleges and universities, to craft policies that will address the problem of bullying in their respective institutions. Further more, Senate Bill No. 3177 entitled An Act Defining Cybercrime focus on crimes done in the cyber world and may very well include cyber bullying.

With all these bills being filed, still bullying persist.

As parents, we prefer that the schools our children go to have measures to counter bullying from happening.

In a recent open forum with other parents and Reedley International School, (RIS), we learned about the school’s Anti-Bullying Campaign or ABC.

The Reedley International School Anti-Bullying Campaign or Bully Proof Campaign states that: “I am Bully Proof At Heart, In Mind and In Spirit”

What activities were lined up with RIS Bully Proof Campaign?

• contract signing and pledging of students and teachers
• new students have “I an NOW bully proof” while old students have “I am bully proof” pins
• essay writing contests
• poster-making contests
• film showing
• pirate family month
• video presentations of students who used to be bullied
• kindness overdose

How does this Bully Proof Campaign work?

According to Reedley International School’s Director of school development Emil Ong and Middle School principal Jo Anne Bilo, students are encouraged to be pro-active and involved by reporting if they witness or experience any form of bullying. They are also encouraged to show kindness to each other. Reported and confirmed incidents are investigated. The life coach consults with the students and parents, conducts interviews and seeks to resolve the conflicts the soonest possible.

There are appropriate penalties for those who initiated the bullying.

Now, if only schools put more effort in curbing the bullying among their students, our children need not go through all these emotional pains.

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The activities were held at the Quezon Memorial Circle and attended by many schools from Quezon City.

There was a parade of colors before the activities were given. The scouters played games, got acquainted and played more games.

It was a tiring but super fun activity not just for the scouters but for their families as well.

Mabuhay!

The bag in the photos is my son’s must-bring because it has inhaler, wet tissue pack, ID and baby powder in it.

Dear son,

Your school days begin at the time you wake up at 5am to get ready for school. Sometimes it’s easy for you to wake up effortlessly but more often than not, you have to drag yourself out of bed.

Most of the time you and your sisters are able to have breakfast before the school bus goes beeping at around 5:45am. If Kuya Driver is early, you all bring your breakfast to school.

You come home with your sisters tired, but happily chatting away how your day was spent in school. And yes, you rarely come home “clean” as you get to play with your classmates while waiting for the school bus to bring you back home.

This was a Science project about the stages of physical development.

Was it just a few years back when you tried to play kadang-kadang while you were still a homeschooler? I still feel you just turned six years old when in fact, you turned 10 two months ago. Now, you are learning about the reproductive system among other things and getting all O’s in Math when the report card was given.

You love the outdoors even if you risk having asthma attack at night when you get tired. Being a Boy Scout is not easy but you found joy in it so much so you are on your second year of being one. Why, you even spent a three day camp with your schoolmates last month and tomorrow is another big day with Scouts from other schools.

And what about the Dramatics Club? Last year’s performance was something I know we are proud of and something you enjoyed because this year, you joined the club again. We are definitely looking forward to see you perform again. My fervent wish is to listen to you recite a poem again in Filipino or watch you perform a folk dance.

There are a lot more to discover, learn and conquer and I know you will be able to do these things you enjoy doing.

You are growing up so fast!

I love you to the moon and back!

Your mom, Teacher Julie

The son lining up to go down the zipline:

The Kampo Trexo zip line from below:

Kampo Trexo Rock/Wall Climbing. This looks easy but not all the children were able to reach the top:

Kampo Trexo rappelling:

Kampo Trexo Obstacle Course:

Monkey Bars:

Net covered zigzag route:

Scramble to the top of the ropes and going back on the other side challenge:

Mini-hanging bridge:

Cross the other side of the wall while hanging on the hand and foot hold wall:

Balancing on wood:

Hiking down a steep hill to go river trekking:

Going back to camp site on a big hanging bridge high above tree tops:

Kampo Trexo is fun. I’m sure it would also be fun to spend a Scouting camp there

Kampo Trexo is in Alfonso, Cavite.

Going down to where the waterfalls are:

Children enjoying themselves:

They are all off-limits to go near the waterfalls. The field trip facilitators are manning the rope that stops them from going there.

Lovely isn’t it?

Who needs to go to the bathroom when you got free-flowing water to remove the dirt off?

Fun, fun, field trip.

January 1, Saturday – New Year’s Day (RH)

April 9, Saturday – Araw ng Kagitingan (RH)

April 21 – Maundy Thursday (RH)

April 22 – Good Friday (RH)

May 1, Sunday – Labor Day (RH)

June 12, Sunday – Independence Day (RH)

June 20, Monday – 150^th birth anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal (SnD, as per Proclamation No. 154, s. 2011)

August 21, Sunday – Ninoy Aquino Day (SnD)

August 29, Monday – National Heroes Day (RH)

November 1, Tuesday – All Saints Day (SnD)

November 30, Wednesday – Bonifacio Day (RH)

December 25, Sunday – Christmas Day (RH)

December 30, Friday – Rizal Day (RH)

December 31, Saturday – Last Day of the Year (SnD)

Source: Philippine Gazette

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All levels in Quezon City, from preschool to high school have no classes tomorrow, July 25, 2011 as per DepEd due to the State of the Nation address.

-ang bawat pantig ay binubuo ng titik o kombinasyon ng mga titik.

Patinig

• anak
• elepante
• ulan
• utos
• unan

Patinig/Katinig

• itlog
• isla
• isda
• aklat
• antok

Katinig/Patinig

• bata
• puno
• kamay
• guro
• timog

KPK Katinig/patinig/katinig

• kalmot
• bagyo
• kanluran
• baryo
• kalbo

PKK Patinig/Katinig/Katinig

• ekstra
• angkan
• angkin

KKPK Katinig/Katinig/Patinig/Katinig

• trumpo
• dram
• presko
• plantsa

KPKK Katinig/Patinig/Katinig/Katinig

• nars
• kard,
• airport