Louisiana Connections Academy National Bullying Prevention Month 2016

Nearly one-third of all school-aged children are bullied at school, but those who have experienced or witnessed this phenomenon have found safe haven in their online K-12 classroom experience.
           
“Many parents and students choose Louisiana Connections Academy specifically to overcome bullying,” said High School Principal Shuanessy Matthews. “We are open to any family who needs to switch to a safer environment at any grade.”

According to Principal Matthews, attending school from home enables the student to focus completely on learning without the fear of intimidation, embarrassment, or injury. Virtual school also can offer kids safe, supervised ways to socialize both online and in-person—through clubs, activities, and field trips.

Connections Community Liaison Shelly Centanni said the normal school year for a virtual student is filled with field trips, just like any traditional school. High school students also attend proms.

A nationwide survey of Connections Academy parents say making the switch to online school has been the best decision they could have made.

“We have online information sessions, as well as meet-ups during the year if any parent and their child want to learn more and change schools,” said Ms. Centanni. She said these events are listed at the school’s website (www.LouisianaConnectionsAcademy.com) or parents can call Ms. Centanni at 225-372-8389 to schedule an appointment.

Principal Matthews recommended the following resources to recognize and prevent bullying:

StopBullying.gov: provides helpful information from various government agencies on how kids, teens, young adults, parents, educators, and others in the community can prevent or stop bullying. Learn what bullying is, how to recognize the signs of it, and how to get help.
 
Girl Wars: provides information about relational aggression and suggests different ways to stop female bullying. Read case studies, watch role-play scenarios, and help a child develop strategies for ending relational aggression and pursuing positive relationships with peers.
 
Defeat the Label: a collection of social advocacy tools to help take a stand and put a stop to bullying.
 
Teen Line: operated by teens, for teens, this website promotes a confidential telephone helpline that runs every evening from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. PST.
 
PACER National Bullying Prevention Center: unique digital resources that address bullying in creative, relevant, and interactive ways to engage with and educate others about the impact of bullying:
Free creative activities: for K-12 students, to raise awareness of and understanding about how to respond to bullying.
PACER Center’s Kids against Bullying: this website is made just for kids and explains bullying in ways that younger children can understand. It also provides activities and resources to teach them how to appropriately respond to it.
 
Cartoon Network’s “Stop Bullying Speak Up”: compiles video clips, pictures, tip sheets, and polls related to bullying. Network actors speak up about bullying issues and talk about the benefits of taking appropriate action in these situations
 
Cyberbullying - The Complete Resource Guide hosted by BackgroundChecks.org
 
“October is Bullying Prevention Month,” said Principal Matthews. “It’s never too early to start talking about bullying, and it’s incredibly important to give kids the resources they need to take a stand. So go ahead and start the discussion today. Help your children learn that it’s never okay to hurt people’s feelings.”
 
Contact:
Media - J. Barnes (504) 897-6110
Marketing/Parent Outreach Coordinator Shelly Centanni (225) 567-3294
 
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA CONNECTIONS ACADEMY
(www.LouisianaConnectionsAcademy.com)
Louisiana Connections Academy is the state’s leading provider of high-quality, free public online charter schooling for grades K through 12. Louisiana Connections Academy offers a superior, personalized education for students, offered by Louisiana certified teachers, with the freedom and flexibility of an online education that meets the state’s standards. As an online charter school, students access their lessons anytime, anywhere as long as they have the technology, tools and support of their family. Accountability for meeting high academic student performance is monitored by the non-profit charter board, Friends of Louisiana Connections Academy, Wade Henderson, President. The charter school is authorized by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to accept students from any parish in the state. The school curriculum includes tutoring, summer school, dual enrollment programs and high quality electives. The school is headquartered in Baton Rouge at 4664 Jamestown Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70808. Student field trips, graduation ceremonies, parent-to-parent events and school information sessions are regularly scheduled and promoted at the school website.