NorthStar Adventure, Bethlehem PA, to offer Olweus Bullying Prevention Training to area Schools

Jason Chartrand, Director NorthStar Adventure receives Olweus Bullying Prevention Training Certification

NorthStar Adventure to provide bullying prevention training to area schools.

December 10, 2008 Bethlehem, PA - Every seven minutes a schoolchild is bullied. Adults intervened in 4 percent of those situations, and peers intervened 11 percent of the time, leaving 85 percent of incidents with no intervention at all (U.S. Justice Department).
Bullying is one of the most difficult issues students face. Even with a school’s best efforts, students may still experience bullying in classrooms, school hallways, the lunchroom and the playground or athletic fields. Bullying can affect the safety and wellbeing of the entire student population.

Jason Chartrand, Director of NorthStar Adventure at Dutch Springs in Bethlehem, recently attended a 3-day training program to become a certified instructor and facilitator for the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. NorthStar Adventure plans to offer the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program to the area schools, to assist them in meeting the new amendment of the school code that requires all Pennsylvania public school districts to adopt a bullying prevention policy by the start of 2009.

“The Olweus Bullying program compliments our experiential-based teambuilding offerings, said Chartrand. “An important role in reducing bullying in schools is empowering the entire school population, teachers, administrators, parents and students, with the tools to recognize and confront bullying at the onset. If we empower everyone to lead and be proactive, we can reduce the fear of being bullied and that will provide for a better learning environment for everyone, he added.

“The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is the most researched and best-known bullying prevention program available today” commented Mary Dolan, PA Safe Schools Coordinator. “Jason has joined the largest cadre of trainers in the nation with Pennsylvania boasting 100 certified personnel statewide, Dolan added.

The Olweus Bullying Prevention program is a school-based initiative designed to prevent and/or reduce bullying in elementary, middle and junior high schools. Designed by Dr. Dan Olweus from Norway, this program has been designated by the Center for Safe Schools as a successful program to combat bullying in our schools. The Center for Safe Schools is recognized as the go-to organization for bullying in school prevention.
The Center for Safe Schools, through a unique partnership with the Highmark Foundation, its Healthy High 5 Initiative, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, offers the availability of grants for Pennsylvania schools to address the serious issue of bullying. The Center for Safe Schools administers an initiative called PA CARES (Creating an Atmosphere of Respect and Environment for Success). This initiative helps schools implement the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) to address bullying and provide safe and nurturing learning environments. Questions about the Olweus Program and PA CARES Initiative: Mary Dolan, Safe Schools Coordinator E-mail: mailto:mdolan@csc.csiu.org?subject=PA%20CARESPhone: 717-763-1661 x151
NorthStar Adventure at Dutch Springs offers experiential-based teambuilding and leadership training for corporations, schools, non-profit boards and civic groups. Based at Dutch Springs in Bethlehem, PA, NorthStar Adventure offers professional development training, including ACT 48 CPE hours, Train the Trainer, improved self-esteem and bullying prevention programs. For more information on NorthStar Adventure school programs contact: Jason Chartrand, Director E-mail teamwork@northstaradventure.com Phone: 610-759-2270 website – http://www.northstaradventure.com/

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