New Jersey's Violence Awareness Week
October 15-21, 2013
Information on school violence prevention will be provided to the
school community through school wide initiatives, as well as
individual and group counseling.
School-wide Activities
Violence Prevention Billboard Contest: Students will create a poster in the Graphic Arts Class
that expresses the importance of speaking up against violence and being drug-free. The contest
will be announced 3-4 weeks in advance of Violence Prevention Week so that those who want to
participate have time to create a design. Display of all the submissions will be posted around the
school during Violence Prevention Week. Top three posters will be constructed into canvassed
banners and displayed in the Main Lobby of Franklin High School.
TAG (Teens Achieving Goals) Presentation: Ms. Ginan Arnone will provide a presentation in
health classes regarding Abusive Relationships.
Connections Students Student Mentors will create a booth for Safe Halloween. Booth will
include safety practices, prevention materials and drug free tattoos
Facts and Prevention: Provides to Students and Staff via WANT TV, Prevention Posters
displayed throughout Cafeteria.
Announcements: Announcements read over the PA system each day pertaining to domestic
violence, abusive relationships, bullying, stalking, homicides, and what can students do to stop
violence in schools including introduction of the SPEAK UP Campaign. :
Hey students – are you concerned about violence at school? Do you know
another student with a weapon or threatening to hurt someone? Well, there is
something you can do about it. Just call 1-866-SPEAK-UP to report a weapon
threat. The call is free and completely anonymous. If you know about a student
carrying a weapon or threatening violence, don’t take chances, call 1-866SPEAK-UP. That’s 1-866-SPEAK-UP. It could be the most important call you’ll
ever make. October 15-21, 2013 is National Safe Schools Week.
Over one million high school students in America take a weapon to school at least
once every 30 days.
• 1.3 million high school students are threatened or injured with a weapon on school
property at least once every year
• 81% of school attackers tell someone of their plans beforehand
• 70% of youth said they would report another student who brought a weapon to school
• 83% said they would report another student if they could do it anonymously
• Over 50% said they would definitely or probably report even if people might think
they were a snitch or a tattletale
• Only 3.3% said they would never report a weapon threat
• 52% of students know of an incident where someone brought a weapon to school. Of
those, 61% did nothing about it.
• Over 75% of students in homes with guns know where a gun is hidden
Freshman Boys Circle Groups Topics: Conflict Resolution Facilitated by Student Assistance
Coordinator Jason Marchitto
Girls Circle Groups Topics: Violence Prevention Stress Management Facilitated by Student
Assistance Coordinator Stacy Hale
Ms. Little Drama Department Anti-bullying presentations: Dates TBA
School Violence poem posted in cafeteria and students “pledge against violence” by putting painted
thumbprint and signing their name
Public Service Announcements regarding Violence Prevention on WANT TV
http://www.safeschoolsweek.org/michelle_new.mov
http://www.safeschoolsweek.org/JOSH.MPG
http://www.safeschoolsweek.org/You%20Can%27t%20Rewind%20Time.mov
Suggestions for Classroom Based Activities
HEALTH
During this week the Health classes are suggested to implement the following lessons:
10th grade – Discussion on Adolescent Driver Safety. Focus discussion can be on
“Road Rage” – Drivers Manual
12th grade – Discussion can center on Abusive Relationships and Domestic
Violence issues. Discussions can be centered on the major risk factors for violence and the
amount of violence in dating. Students will identify methods for resolving conflicts.
Discussions can be based on characteristics of a healthy versus unhealthy relationship, including
ways to express feelings in a positive manner.
ENGLISH
Students can identify effective methods for resolving conflicts.
Students can role-play different scenarios using conflict resolution methods.
.
High School English students can practice HSPA persuasive essay writing by brainstorming
ways to reduce school violence. Essays can be addressed to the administration and local
community politicians, organizations, law enforcement etc.
JOURNALISM
Journalism classes can utilize the survey section of the curriculum, by infusing the headlines of
various media outlets to determine if violence in the media attract consumers, recording how
many violent articles appear on page one of each local newspaper.
MATH
Math students can use open-ended problems containing current statistical
information on violence in America’s high schools and teen violence.
Math students can work in cooperative groups to promote teamwork, respect
and trust. They canl also use the library to research bullying, checking statistics
and suggesting methods to combat bullying in school.
HISTORY
The Social Studies students can develop and display posters involving the
following subjects: Acts of subtle bias (stereotyping, jokes, rumors), acts of
bigotry and prejudice (ridicule, social avoidance), act of discrimination (social
exclusion, harassment), acts of violence (assault, terrorism, threats), acts of
extreme violence (murder, rape and arson), and genocide.
SCIENCE
Science students can present and discuss fact sheets provided by the
Department of Health and Human Service and Centers for Disease Control.
These sheets will culminate in discussions about violence prevention, youth
violence, child maltreatment and a timeline of violence as a public health issue.
SPECIAL EDUCATION
Special Education students can read various articles based on involvement in uncomfortable
situations, discussing decisions on how to react.
BUSINESS
Business students can research and create posters or web-pages on
preventing school violence. They can discuss violence in their personal and
school lives by utilizing using clipart, text and borders, graphically design a poster or
flyers related to School Violence Awareness Week.
SCHOOL VIOLENCE POEM
When we walk down the halls
We see angry kids punching walls,
Some just smile while others frown
I just walk on holding my head down.
You go to the same table
With our usual friends and some old label,
Either you're cool or not
You’re called a nerd if you know a lot.
If they don’t fit in
They revert to paper and pen,
They write out their sadness
Till they hit someone in madness.
This is our fear,
Others get hurt from the rumors they hear,
Bullies’ make fun of her or him
While I try to stand up for both of them.
This is our everyday fight
To be safe and do what’s right,
Our school’s safety is what keeps us here
And our school’s staff, tell us not to fear.
Without the safety in schools
And having to obey the rules,
We would all end up fearing the worst
Wondering who would get hurt first.
Students want to feel protected
With the outbursts of others, many are affected,
Some walk the halls hoping for the best
While others hide from the rest.
Some students are afraid to walk alone,
Some are afraid to walk home,
They pretend not to be
Hiding their fear so know one else will see.
This is our everyday war
Wondering if in school here can be more,
Maybe if we work together
We can make our community better.
Thank you for your time
And for reading this sad little rhyme,
I hope you understand
It’s true and we students could use a hand.