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By John Monfredo, Worcester School Committee

The school year has come to an end, and one of the issues that I have discussed for several years has been an anti-bullying law for Massachusetts. Finally, last year Massachusetts became the 45th state to enact an anti-bullying law. Unfortunately, it took the suicides of 11 year old Carl Walker-Hoover of Springfield and 15 year old Phoebe Prince of South Hadley to convince state lawmakers to enact a state law.

Since being elected to the School Committee, I have been a strong advocate for anti-bullying legislation for as a former principal I saw firsthand what it did to our children. Bullying is unfair and one-sided. It happens when someone keeps hurting, frightening, threatening, or leaving someone out on purpose.

It wasn’t that long ago that bullying was often overlooked by teachers and parents, dismissed as a common if painful, rite of passage along the bumpy road to becoming an adult. This is not so any more as research has stated how devastating this behavior can be to the individual. No longer can we can say to the students, “Work it out” for they need to learn specific strategies to cope with these situations. Continue reading Bullying knows no boundaries: the insidious nature of cyber bullying →

Worcester – It’s time for our 2^nd Annual Hearts for the Arts fundraiser to benefit the students in the Worcester Public Schools! Last year we solicited local artists to work creatively with wooden heart forms, which were transformed into unique pieces of art.

This year, we have invited artists to create something with a heart-based theme in the medium of their choice. Worcester Public Schools teachers and other area artists have created works in wood, glass and metal, and on canvases and in paper and fabric!

Many of the items are posted on the home page of the Worcester Public Schools website (www.worcesterschools.org) and bids can be accepted by emailing the Visual Arts Liaison, Kathleen Ivanowski, at Ivanowski@worc.k12.ma.us until midnight on June 15^th.

We then invite the public to join us at Club Maxine’s on Friday, June 17^th from 5:00 to 8:00 PM where the online bids will be carried over for the live silent auction portion of our fundraiser. Donations for admission are inexpensive at $10.00 per person, which includes hors d’oeuvres, and a cash bar. We are also offering chances to own a beautiful framed photograph by local photographer Amy DeMar.

Winners of the auction items may write a check to Culture LEAP, our fiscal agent, or pay with cash. Proceeds will directly benefit the students in the Worcester Public Schools, as the teachers will use the money to purchase art supplies.

With our heart-felt thanks, we can all help to keep the arts alive in Worcester!