This page includes basic messaging designed for use by school administrators to promote the topic of oral health among students, parents, and the general school community. Included are:
- Morning announcement scripts
- Newsletter inserts
- Social media messages
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Healthy Schools contact at HPEPH.
| Morning Announcement Message | Audience |
| A message from Public Health – Kids who are being bullied often feel like they can’t stand up for themselves. If you see someone being bullied, you can help by inviting them to play with you somewhere else, by being kind, by telling the person who is bullying that what they are doing is not okay or by telling an adult who can help stop the bullying. | Elementary Students |
| A message from Public Health – October is Bullying Prevention Month. Bullying can happen lots of different ways – both in person and online. It could be pushing or kicking someone, spreading rumours, yelling in someone’s face, not including others, telling others not to be friends with someone, being mean, and more. Bullying is never okay and we all play a critical role in preventing bullying. You can help prevent bullying by being kind, including others, standing up for the person being bullied or telling an adult who can help stop the bullying. | All Students |
| A message from Public Health – Bullying is behaviour that is meant to hurt, scare, or upset another person. Bullying takes place over and over, and is aggressive. Bullying is never okay. You can be part of the solution by standing up for the person being bullied, by refusing to participate in bullying, or by telling an adult who can help! Scared to tell an adult? Telling an adult to help others is NOT tattling, this is an important step you can take to get someone OUT of trouble. Tattling is what you do to get someone IN trouble. By telling an adult about the bullying, you are getting them OUT of trouble. | All Students |
| A message from Public Health – Before you click send, stop and think – to avoid regret! Before you send or forward a message, photo, or email, ask yourself if it will hurt, upset, or embarrass someone. Ask yourself how you would feel if it was being sent about you. Even if you weren’t the person who created a message or post, forwarding it means you are participating in the bullying and are now part of the problem. You can be part of the solution. Delete it and refuse to pass it on! | Secondary Students |
| Newsletter Inserts | Audience |
| Bullying Bullying is not a normal part of growing up, however the majority of children may be affected by bullying at least once during their childhood. Bullying is about the abuse of power. The effects of bullying are immediate and can be long-lasting which puts children at risk for a number of physical, social and mental health problems. Adults are responsible for preventing bullying and intervening if bullying occurs. How Parents Can Help Prevent Bullying Teach your child about emotions, and the impact that words and behaviours can have on others. Empathy is an important skill for children to learn. When children have empathy, they are less likely to bully others. Parents should also do their best to model healthy relationships and create open and inclusive environments. For more information, visit https://www.prevnet.ca/bullying/parents | Elementary School Parents |
| Bullying, and how Parents Can Help Prevent it! Bullying is a type of abuse, and it can look different depending on the age of those involved. Bullying is targeted and repeated behaviour meant to intimidate and shame another person. Those who bully and those who are bullied are exposed to a number of different social and mental health problems and may lead to a pattern of abuse if left unaddressed. Physical bullying is more present during the elementary school years while social and cyberbullying is more prevalent during the high school years. Bullying is a relationship problem. In order to prevent bullying from occurring, children and teens need to be taught empathy and what healthy relationships look like. By observing healthy relationships, children and teens learn the tools and skills to form healthy connections with others. For more information, visit https://www.prevnet.ca/bullying | All Parents |
| Cyberbullying and What Parents can do to Help! The internet can be a great tool to keep connected with others. However, when used inappropriately, the internet can be used to bully others. Cyberbullying happens when an individual tries to embarrass, threaten, stalk, harass or humiliate another person online. The impacts of online bullying can also impact students’ experience at home and in school. Examples of Cyberbullying Include:
What Parents Can do if their Teen is a Victim When a teen is being cyberbullied, they may appear distressed, unhappy or irritable. It’s important for parents to create and foster healthy relationships with their teenager, so their adolescent will feel safe coming to them if they are being cyberbullied. Parents should be ready to listen to their teen, be their advocate, and intervene if their teen is being cyberbullied. To be sure the problem is addressed, it’s important to keep records of the cyberbullying, including text message conversations, emails, instant messaging conversations or social media posts. Incidents of cyberbullying should be reported to your child’s school or the police. What Parents Can do if their Teen is Cyberbullying Others Teens who cyberbully often have a history of bullying others. It’s important that parents monitor their teen’s use of the internet and social media. Computers should be kept and used in a common area such as the kitchen or living room, cellphones should be kept away from teens overnight, and teens’ use of the internet and social media accounts should be monitored by parents. If you suspect your child is cyberbullying others, remove their cellphone and internet privileges, teach them the detrimental effects that cyberbullying can have and encourage them to apologize to the person they hurt. For more information, visit https://www.prevnet.ca/bullying/cyber-bullying For information on how to keep kids and teens safe online, visit http://cyberbullying.primus.ca/ | Secondary School Parents |
| Social Media Messaging – Elementary | Audience |
| October is National Bullying Prevention Month! We all have a vital role in preventing bullying and providing safe and respectful environments for children and youth to learn and develop. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3oRvlYC | Parents of Elementary Students |
| Bullying is not a normal part of growing up. Adults have a responsibility to prevent bullying and to step in when bullying occurs. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3Fsg06Q | All Parents |
| Children learn about relationships by observing adults. When adults model healthy relationships, children learn the skills to form healthy connections with others. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3Fsg06Q | All Parents |
| Social Media Messaging – Secondary | Audience |
| Navigating the teen years can be hard, but parents and caregivers can help! Connect with your child and provide them with opportunities to discuss their thoughts and feelings. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3oJxdCN | Parents of Secondary Students |
| Bullying is not a normal part of growing up. Adults have a responsibility to prevent bullying and intervene when bullying occurs. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3Fsg06Q | All Parents |
| DYK that youth learn about relationships by observing adults? When adults model healthy relationships, youth learn the skills to form healthy connections with others. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3Fsg06Q | Parents of Secondary Students |
