Parents and Families

As a parent, you have the greatest influence in the life of your child. Whether your child is experiencing a conflict in a relationship, changes in their friendships, or are dealing with incidents that involve bullying behaviours, emotions are naturally heightened. Anxiety created by news events of serious bullying incidents that have resulted in suicide, or fear related to the misuse of technology, can also leave you feeling challenged and seeking information on how to support your child. As adults, how we respond to our children and the concern can strengthen our message to youth that we can and will protect and support them as they learn about themselves and interact safely with others. Manitoba Education encourages a strength-based approach that recognizes your child’s resiliency while supporting protective factors that build strength and well-being.

If your child is having a problem feeling comfortable and safe at school, it is important that you communicate with and work with the school team to solve the issue as quickly as possible.
The ‘communication protocol’ recommended follows these guidelines:

• Listen to your child to determine the issue’s severity and identify his/her needs.
• Contact your child’s teacher and/or school counsellor to seek solutions. Ask how you can be a part of the solution. The teacher or counsellor may involve the principal if the incident warrants.
• If the issue is not resolved, contact your school principal and ask for follow-up. Request that the school principal communicate the plan to you.
• If your child continues to experience problems ask the school principal if there are other resources in the school division or community that could assist in a resolution.
• If a resolution is not found or you are not satisfied with the school response, contact with your School Division’s Superintendent to explain your experience and request resolution.
• If the problem still has not been resolved, contact the Board of Trustees of your School Division. Your elected school trustees can assist you with this process.

Related Parent Links: This sample of links provides information and steps that you can consider when interested in learning more about, preventing or responding to bullying behaviours toward your child or by your child.

Manitoba Sites:

Safe Schools Manitoba is a partnership initiative where organizations are committed to working together to enhance the safety of Manitoba’s schools and communities. With the mandate to create a greater awareness and understanding of the problems that impact the safety of Manitoba schools, it advocates a positive, proactive approach to the promotion of safe and caring schools and communities. Safe Schools Manitoba offers workshops, resources, and consultations to create greater awareness and understanding of the problems that impact the safety of our schools.

The Healthy Schools initiative in Manitoba promotes the health and wellness of students, their families, school staff, and school communities. This initiative is a partnership between Manitoba Healthy Living, Youth and Seniors, Manitoba Education, and Healthy Child Manitoba

Manitoba Parent Zone provides resources and information for Manitoba parents.

Other:

Canadian Safe Schools  Along with other community members, parents have a role to play in creating safe schools and communities, regardless of whether their children are those who bully, who are being bullied, are witnessing bullying, or are completely uninvolved in bullying incidents. Link provides information on how parents can get involved and be a part of the solution.

Healthy Canadians site includes parent information on how to identify and address topics such as bullying and cyber-bullying with your child.

Media Smarts: Canada's Centre for Digital and Media Literacy (Parents)

PREVNet Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence - Resources for Parents

Kids Health Parent link deals with various issues.

Parenting site by Dr. Michele Borba: Proven Solutions to Raise Strong Caring Kids: Is your teen cyber-bullied?

Contact

General Enquiries
Program and Student Services
Telephone: 204-945-7907
Toll Free in Manitoba: 1-800-282-8069 ext. 7907
Email: pssbinfo@gov.mb.ca