WTB Chosen to Participate in Anti-Bullying Program

District Anti-Bullying Coordinator Frank Verducci is pleased to announce that (WTB) has been selected to participate in the Roots Program: a research-based intervention program to reduce school bullying, intimidation and harassment during the 2012-13 school year.

The program is being conducted by Princeton University’s Department of Psychology and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.

The Roots Program is an innovative program designed to create grassroots movements among students to reduce face-to-face and online harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) and to improve the learning climate in New Jersey middle schools. The program is being offered at no cost to the district.

“We became aware of this opportunity back in January through notification by the New Jersey Department of Education. After consulting with Interim Superintendent Dr. (Terrance) Brennan, he encouraged me to complete the participation application. Today, we received notification that out of 110 applications submitted, Walter T. Bergen’s was one of several chosen to participate! The number of schools applying was so great that they had to conduct a lottery to pick the 'winners,' Principal Frank Verducci said.

“Being part of this program demonstrates our district's commitment to the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights and will allow our School Anti-Bullying Specialist and School Safety Team to implement further strategies to reduce and prevent HIB in our school and community. Besides some of the pro-active measures we have already taken at WTB, this program will help us determine areas of strength and areas needing improvement. For our school to effectuate change, school climate and the involvement of our student body is most important.”