Families are raising concerns about ongoing violence and bullying at a Catholic middle school in Thunder Bay, Ont., a situation that led a First Nation chief in the area to speak to the school boards and the hiring of security guards.
Pope John Paul II is one of three middle schools for Grade 7 and 8 students in the northwestern Ontario city.
In April 2022, Pamela Kaartinen started a Facebook group called Concerned Parents of Pope John Paul School. With about 230 members at publication time, the group’s posts include parents sharing stories of physical, verbal and online bullying, and recordings of fights.
Recently, security guards were hired to address escalating concerns at the school, which is on the former grounds of St. Joseph’s Indian Residential School. As the only middle school on the city’s south side, it’s attended by many students from Fort William First Nation, an Ojibway First Nation on the western shores of Lake Superior.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
With about 230 members at publication time, the group’s posts include parents sharing stories of physical, verbal and online bullying, and recordings of fights.
In regard to this specific incident Georgia references, the board’s statement says the man was a deacon and was there for confirmation preparations, and "in no way, would clergy be brought in to assist with behavioural changes or student wellness — this would go against [Ministry of Education] regulations and our code of conduct.
Solomon said it’s important to recognize the stressors affecting middle school-aged students that may contribute to bullying, such as identity issues, hormonal changes, technology and social media.
The Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board offered information about the cultural room at Pope John Paul II:
Thunder Bay parent Amii Whitney said her eldest son, who has autism, couldn’t make it through a full year at Pope John Paul II because of bullying.
Students in an environment where there’s frequent physical bullying come to feel that it’s a normal situation, resulting in an escalation of more aggressive violence, said Vaillancourt.
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