Worried about bullying? It went really well, her son said about his first day. Here are some of the problematic details Knight used in describing her experiences visiting the school: Adults clearly had no control over the kids as they went from one class to the next. T: 1 (800) 524-7395 Let us know how we're doing with this survey. And this is exactly what students are asking for! I taught for a year at one of the better high schools in San Francisco where a female teacher was beaten up by two female students who were subsequently suspended. CDC - Making It Happen! - Aptos Middle School - Adolescent and School Reports of bullying are not unique to Aptos Junior High, or to Santa Cruz County. Bell Schedules | SFUSD - San Francisco Public Schools (LogOut/ National studies show that kids have carried the residual effects of stress and social isolation from the pandemic back into the classroom, fueling a rise in mental health issues and violent behavior, even as most schools have fully resumed in-person instruction. Administrators told parents at Aptos Junior High that the alleged bullying happened off school grounds and is outside the schools disciplinary scope. Washington, D.C. 20201, Middle school is when bullying happens most, Understand the roles children play in bullying, If you think your child may be bullying others, Learn about your schools bullying prevention policies, What to do if your child is involved in bullying, What to do if your child is bullying others, What your child can do if they are bullied, What to do if your child witnesses bullying, Prevention in Extra-Curricular Activities, If they lose or have destroyed clothing, books, electronics, or jewelry, If they have frequent headaches or stomach aches, or often feel sick or fake illness, If you notice changes in their eating habits, like suddenly skipping meals or binge eating, If they have difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares, If they have loss of interest in schoolwork or dont want to go to school, If they have sudden loss of friends or avoid of social situations, If they have feelings of helplessness or decreased self-esteem, If they have self-destructive behaviors, such as running away from home, harming themselves, or talking about suicide, Gets sent to the principals office or to detention frequently, Has unexplained extra money or new belongings, Blames others for their problems or doesnt accept responsibility for their actions, Worries about their reputation or popularity. Teachers tell you that your child isnt speaking or participating much in classes. Learn whats been going on and show you want to help. Prepare them for what to do if bullying happens to them. She did not specify when that meeting would be, but noted action will likely be taken the night of the discussion. Get the story from several sources if possible, both teachers and other adults who may have witnessed it. San Francisco is not that far from San Mateo. Listen to them. Many public high schools require the teacher who assigns detention to stay after school to monitor the student themselves! Hes now attending an alternative school run by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. (LogOut/ 1 2 . What you might be seeing: Your child comes home every day hungry or with an uneaten lunch. PBIS Award Winner We are a 2022 Positive Behavior Intervention System award winner! The 14-year-old then posted sexual solicitations, making racial slurs against the victim, authorities said. He died that night after being airlifted for treatment to Natividad Medical Center, according to the claim. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Aptos middle-schoolers tangle with online bullying Instead, for example, when I taught in SFUSD, the helpful classroom management advice that I was given by a vice principal was simply, Dont let them see you smile until after Christmas!, i.e., the teacher is expected to control the classroom by giving stern looks and emulating a prison guard persona! That part of the educational code is referenced in the Parents Rights and Responsibilities document that all Pajaro Unified parents sign at the start of the school year, administrators said. Future coverage: Are you an expert, parent, student or educator and want to talk to Lookout about bullying for future coverage on the topic? Heather Knights article has a real impact on real lives and how young people perceive themselves and their school.. You can learn about your state bullying prevention laws, policies, or regulations on StopBullying.gov. Customize your online reporting page. Copyright 2023, Lookout Santa Cruz All Rights Reserved. While the effort mostly was aimed at bullying related to sexual orientation, the general message was that bullying for any reason is wrong. Social hierarchies are often established in middle school. Aptos High School - STOPit- Stop Bullying 1 They can also be bullied on the way to/from school, and at school-related events. There are other types of cyberbullying tactics, and it can also happen during gaming. Youre now the parent of a child in middle school. Use a parental monitoring software to restrict content, block domains, or view your childs online activities without looking at their device every day. The case is being investigated as a communication that annoys complaint. Have something to say? Dont you have any friends?. They might lose old friends and make new ones, change their social circles, or feel adrift in the rapidly changing groups and alliances being formed. It could get your child hurt, suspended, or expelled. Every tax-deductible donation helps us grow to cover the issues that mean the most to our community. lots of time taken for" read more in Preschools, Child Care & Day Care, Elementary Schools Calvary Christian School 4 Instructional Reform Facilitator Bianca Woods, one of the 20 educators that spoke to the Chronicle about school conditions, argued that aside from the racist connotations, the story was an oversimplification and peripheral at best in depicting school life. $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ? Notice Recognize if there has been a change in mood or behavior and explore what the cause might be. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. PVUSD and District personnel breached their duty to supervise in that they provided ineffective and/or a total lack of supervision of students while on Aptos High campus during school hours., We remain heartbroken but the tragic death of our Aptos High School student and our prayers remain with his family. APTOS The parents of a 17-year-old Aptos High School student fatally stabbed on campus in August filed a wrongful death civil claim Tuesday against the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. Aptos is a normal middle school, not crazy or in chaos. Like many middle schools, the administration (both at the site and centrally) seem to be struggling to respond to parent, student, and teacher concerns when bullying happens. I kinda felt targeted, said Tello. /Type /XObject SMUHSD Class Sign-up Time Please Read ThisFirst! Compare Aptos Middle School to Other Schools sfusd.edu (415) 469-4520 105 APTOS AVE. Never tell the child to ignore the bullying. In an email to district officials the day after the meeting, she asked that the school add more adult supervision on campus including when students are arriving at or leaving school and that it install security cameras, make school counselors available more than one day a week, integrate anti-racist curriculum on campus and provide deescalation training for the principal and assistant principal. << Aptos Middle School serves 939 students in grades 6-8. Copyright 2014-2023 Understood For All Inc. what to do if you think your child is being bullied. Aptos Scholars will advance to high school filled with purpose as they continue to uphold our core T.I.G.E.R. Problems locally may also be impacting the regular stream classes, especially in math. Not all children show warning signs, but if you notice any of the following, it might be that theyre being bullied: Though no parent wants their child to be a perpetrator of bullying, it does happen. Jason Hannon, District The media loves to blame immigrants, while ignoring the fact that some of the people guarding the border are also working with the drug cartels. APTOS - A day after Valentine"s Day, an eighth-grade girl at Aptos Junior High School lifted another girl"s photo from Facebook and created a Formspring page posing as her schoolm She said that while she doesnt feel unsafe, other students who have been getting bullied do. Get the facts. The San Francisco Chronicle has a podcast entitled Fifth & Mission. On Feb. 15th, 2020 the topic was Chaos upends San Franciscos Aptos Middle School. The podcast is a discussion of Heather Knights column of the same date entitled Lord of the Flies: Fights, bullying, chaos upend San Francisco middle school., Aptos Middle School is near the well-to-do St. Francis Wood and Monterey Heights neighborhoods several blocks east of Stonetown Galleria, but has students bussed in from other parts of the City including the poorer Bayview and Portrero Hill neighborhoods. Students can be bullied in different ways, for instance: Physical bullying like being pushed, shoved, punched, tripped, spit on; or being made to do things they did not want to do. Keep the lines of communication open. Is there a power imbalance? Its up to you to recognize the warning signs of bullying. However, if there is a nexus between bullying outside of that time and an incident of intimidation on campus, students can be disciplined with suspension or expulsion, Schekman said. Aptos Middle School (2023 Ranking) - San Francisco, CA Aptos Middle School - San Francisco, CA - Univstats What you might be seeing: Your child is quiet after school and seems withdrawn. The school districts decision to cancel its long-standing resource officer program came during the height of the coronavirus pandemic and distance learning. Courts | And, ultimately, theyre short-staffed and dealing with some students who may be walking a tough road, and are bringing that trauma to school.. Report Most social media platforms and schools have clear policies and reporting processes. Best Public Middle School Teachers in San Francisco Bay Area. Let us please work together to support and invest in this school! PDF Aptos middle school bullying Portraying a school in chaos run by savage childrenthe article title seemed more interested in being clickbait than it was in addressing real issues. What might be happening: Every morning before class, another student trips your child in the hallway and laughs. The entire PVUSD community shares in their grief and sadness, PVUSD Superintendent Michelle Rodrigues said. Many pointed out that, at the end of the day, Aptos faces the same issues as public schools across San Francisco: There just arent enough resources to support students or teachers. Please help elevate the good things happening at the school as well! JFIF K K C Best of the Bay The girls pulled the sixth-grader to the ground by. I often hear that about half the regular math classes are filled with students who come in to high school with very weak math backgrounds, have basically given up on the subject, and cause disruptions in class. Schilling said her son told her he hates going to school and mirroring data for Black students across the countys schools overall doesnt feel safe there. School district personnel should have foreseen the potential harm to students and Gerardo, given the history of violence in the District, including at Aptos High, according to the claim. She last met with district administrators on Feb. 16 to discuss what could be done to help her son feel safe. In reality, no one Ive spoken to sees race as a factor in any of the bullying that families are reporting. Its up to the schools to bring the right environment to make kids feel comfortable, Schekman said. Ask questions about bullying they may have witnessed, experienced, or heard about. The Be Strong app unites those who are being strong to stop bullying. During middle school, your child will encounter new social dynamics with their peers. Its something youre always going to battle, Schekman said. Questions? public school warrior. I agree with many parents that central office administrators do often give families the feeling they are being brushed off (it happens to me!) However, combining a slower curriculum with kids that are bored with or given up on math is a recipe for problems. Please read the Welcome! There seems to me to be a significant number of students who would benefit from this intermediate stream which would save them the stress and expense of the AP exams. Aptos High School - Calendar The alleged victim, also an eighth-grader, was horrified as were her parents. In 2021, 67% of middle school students had positive responses compared to 55% of students in 2022. Brian Saxton, principal at Aptos Junior High, said he could not discuss the case because it involved student discipline. Dan Campos, but he declined to discuss the cases details because the girls are underage. Aptos Middle School - San Francisco, California - CA | GreatSchools At this time, the incidents you are referring to are under investigation and we are not able to comment.. Unfortunately, bullying is one way that adolescents exclude peers from their groups or activities. As a writer and editor, she helps parents make more informed choices for their children and for themselves. bullying more frequently than girls (Nansel et al., 2001; Seals & Young, 2003). Become a 48 Hills Hero and support the only daily progressive news source in the Bay Area. There are ineffective and unsustainable attempts to treat mental health and provide support within the schools, rather than addressing root causes, she said. Reach out to Hillary Ojeda at hillary@lookoutlocal.com or 661-717-6637. Work with the school. James Lick Middle School - Yelp Youth Staff Resource List Photo Galleries Aptos Middle School CLASS of 2012 Isabell Wu, 12, 7th grade What health information do you want to share with the rest of the school and why? Schilling wishes her son had a different outcome, but shes excited for his new school. And, I dont think the administration has been effective at making those families feel heard. In 2019, about 28% of 6th-, 7th-, and 8th- graders reported being bullied at school during the school year. Consider referring them to a school counselor, psychologist, or other mental health service as children who are bullied may struggle with talking about it. Students rallied on the schools front lawn with a mic, holding signs and wearing orange armbands. People who have committed no crime are being held in unsafe and potentially deadly conditions, lawsuit says. To be clear: I understand all too well that if your kid gets bullied, it doesnt matter what the numbers are. Senior Dilemma: What to Take - AP Statistics or Calculus BC. They could benefit from participating in positive activities. There are 1 gender-related, 0 race, color, or nation origin, and 0 disabilities basis bullying reported. Superintendent's Page This year we are focusing on . Teacher Accused of Sexual Misconduct Was Allowed To Quietly Leave Two Various ACLU lawsuits have enhanced student rights over the years, to the detriment of teachers in my opinion, and I have also heard of cases where teachers have been threatened with lawsuits by parents to halt disciplinary measures against their children. Avoid unsafe places or walk away before a potential bullying encounter occurs. Lexi Walters Wright is the former community manager at Understood. Use humor to deflect a potential threatening situation. Rene Ly, a peer resources teacher at Aptos who has worked in the school district for five years, said that she appreciates the students demands and sees a need for the school to work on restorative practices when addressing instances of harm like bullying. You ask why your child didnt eat at school. May!! Be assertive with the person doing the bullying (not aggressive, fighting, or teasing back) when possible. Our student safety is of utmost importance, she said. Because differences are our greatest strength, Expert reviewed by Sheldon H. Horowitz, EdD. One of the violent incidents prior to Gerardos death involved a 14-year-old student and known gang affiliate, on probation at the time, who allegedly pulled a knife on a different student, according to the claim. This academic coach even stated the article includes flat-out fabrication. Schillings son said he enjoyed his first day of school Friday in one of the COEs alternative schools. www.sfusd.edu. Checking on teens in their room in the evening could also reduce teens online mischief, parents said. She has been a working journalist, on both coasts, since 2004. Aptos High School's registrar provides assistance to current students and former students with questions or concerns regarding: Enrollment. Have the children dated? it is a phenomenal place. The case is not the first at Aptos Junior High or other schools in Santa Cruz County, administrators said. As a parent, you are your childs number one protector. The Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Office also investigated the fight and said it had forwarded the information about the incident to Juvenile Probation. Its Black History Month, and to have this happen [as] we look back at civil rights and on the history of police brutality against Black men, she said. But her son continued to struggle and tell her he felt unsafe, she said. Aptos, CA 95003. Aptos Middle School Bullying - Report It Here - San Francisco, California Californias math overhaul aims to help struggling students. Donate! when we challenge them to answer parent/student concerns. Listen without blaming. Bullying in United States Middle Schools Bullying among students in other countries (particularly Norway, Australia, and . Bullying is most frequently reported in grades six through eight. | Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images Damaging property on purpose, like clothing, books, electronics, and jewelry. Coleman Advocates for Children a Youth, an organization that works to empower youth and family voice also responded to problematic portrayals of youth in the article. /Title ( A p t o s m i d d l e s c h o o l b u l l y i n g) social justice addict. The kitchen artist continues to refine his sensibility, mixing homey Mediterranean with far-flung ancient influences. Try to determine if more professional support is needed, such as speaking with a guidance counselor or mental health professional. When children are involved in bullying, they often play more than one role. A Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Office deputy, serving as a school resource officer, returned to the Aptos High School campus in October after community outcry in the wake of Gerardos death. Work with the school to develop appropriate consequences that help your child learn empathy and repair the situation. PVUSD Green Team An educational community committed to protecting our environment. Talk about what bullying is and how to stand up to it safely. Many say that a recent Chronicle column demonized them -- but the issues remain. Bay Guardian Archives Know who to contact at school when bullying happens. Youth Staff Strong progress with high test scores means students have strong academic skills and are making bigger gains than their peers at other schools in the state. Jessica A. York covers Santa Cruz County public safety, courts and homelessness for the Sentinel. The Aptos community is working hard with District leaders to address safety concerns. They can: If they dont feel comfortable intervening, they can do something after it happens: A federal government website managed by the What is the history between the kids involved? Peer opinions of each other take on a lot of importance. 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. However, as my reputation grew, I increasingly focussed on the higher level math classes. Use humor to lighten up a serious situation. You'll find resources, support, and intervention for those affected by bullying, depression, or suicide. Any child can witness bullying, bully others, or be bullied. Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Faris Sabbah. A relative of mine worked as a school security officer in southern California and has told me stories of veteran teachers coming to him in tears telling him that they can no longer control these kids. However, she ays the issue of bullying needs to be addressed differently. View upcoming events at Aptos Middle School. Model how to treat others with kindness and respect. 36.5 percent of students eligible for free and reduced-price school meals. I like chicken, read another, a reference to a description of unruly students (shoving each other, punching each other, yelling, eating chicken) that has been called out for its racial undertones; for Coleman Advocates, a youth-centered nonprofit advocacy organization, it was another instance where Black and Brown students were criminalized and scapegoated for the failure of the school district to create a safe and supportive school environment. The fact that this description is prefaced with a description of the school being situated in a leafy neighborhood with stately homes is troubling when she then states that the reason the school is in chaos is somehow related to integration efforts, and the fact that there are many kids coming from low-income communities, (she mentions Carver and Starr King) who have single parents, lots of trauma and few male role models. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services If this is incorrect, please contact us at support@antibullyingsoftware.com. Lots of tenants get evicted in San Francisco, many Aptos students walk out for safety -- and resources, An eviction on Lake Street raises questions about the price of relocating tenants, Reparations task force member speaks outabout some very bad press coverage, Among the drug traffickers you dont hear about: The United States Border Patrol, 65-year-old cancer survivor is fighting Ellis Act evictionfor the second time, Mayor, supervisors at odds over hotel rooms for homeless, Immigrants sue for release from Yuba County and Mesa Verde jails, Screen Grabs: Sound on film, from Beirut bombings to messages from the dead, Killer Mike: Ive been making dope music for 20 years, but people havent really met me, A sensual odyssey through Luce chef Dennis Efthymious magnum opus tasting menu. Sometimes children bully to fit in. Aptos Middle School placed Sylvestri on administrative leave in order to investigate the allegations against him and officials ultimately issued him a verbal reprimand. From 2017 to 2019 the most recent year for which data is available on the COE website the percentage of Black students who reported feeling unsafe at school shot up from 21% to 50% higher than any other demographic group. I do think the principal and the vice principal really care about students. Reach out privately to the person doing the bullying to express concernif they feel safe to do so. Feldstein doesnt know Schilling personally but said shes engaged with her for years in Facebook parent groups focused on raising awareness and social justice activism. Each jurisdiction, including all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, address bullying differently. The district says it is. The San Francisco Unified School District faces a budget shortfall of $31.8 million, and the next fiscal year could double the deficit. That gets lost., While Aptos students, parents, and staff all seemed to agree on the need for increased social and emotional student support, some disagreed with a recent San Francisco Chronicle column and podcast depicting the middle school as chaotic and overrun by aggressive students that adults had no control over., Although the walkout was planned before the story was published, students clearly wanted their opinions on the story to be heard. /CA 1.0 1 0 obj VISIT THE LOOKOUT NEWSLETTER & TEXT CENTER. 4 0 obj You can also contact app or social media platforms to report offensive content and have it removed. If a classmate is cyberbullying, report it the school. (Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz ) Reports of bullying are not unique to Aptos Junior High, or to Santa Cruz County. Verbal bullying like being the subject of rumors, taunting; being called names; being threatened; receiving offensive notes or gestures. What might be happening: Whenever your child is called to the board to solve math problems, other kids groan.

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