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Roscommon People Friday 13 May 2016
NewsPeople
Praise for initiative which tackles bullying in the school Cornafulla NS, who participated in the OK Kids Anti-Bullying Pilot Programme, supported by Roscommon Co. Council. In picture are: Cllrs. Paddy Kilduff, Cathaoirleach, Roscommon Council, Valerie Beirne, John Naughten, Ivan Connaughton, John Cummins, Joe Murphy, Orla Leyden; Eugene Cummins, CEO, Roscommon Co. Council; Monica Monahan, co-ordinator, Supt. Fran Nicholson, Fr. Ray Milton and Michelle Cox, Roscommon Co. Council pictured with Charlie, Tommy and Orla Smith, Lisa Rooney and Sean Mahon. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin
St. Mary’s NS, Knockcroghery, who participated in the OK Kids Anti-Bullying Pilot Programme, supported by Roscommon Co. Council. In picture are: Cllrs. Paddy Kilduff, Cathaoirleach, Roscommon Council, Valerie Beirne, Kathleen Shanagher, John Naughten, Ivan Connaughton, John Cummins, Joe Murphy, Orla Leyden; Eugene Cummins, CEO, Roscommon Co. Council; Monica Monahan, co-ordinator, Supt. Fran Nicholson, Fr. Ray Milton pictured with Andrew Hayes, Gerard Mullin, Shane Gately, Niamh Fitzgerald, Laura Finan, Kayla Bruton, Madeline Thomas, Sofea Rahmat, Karol Feerick, Caroline Tully and Ciara Dempsey. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin Ballymurray NS, who participated in the OK Kids Anti-Bullying Pilot Programme, supported by Roscommon Co. Council. In picture are: Cllrs. Paddy Kilduff, Cathaoirleach, Roscommon Council, Valerie Beirne, John Naughten, Kathleen Shanagher, Ivan Connaughton, John Cummins, Joe Murphy, Orla Leyden; Eugene Cummins, CEO, Roscommon Co. Council; Monica Monahan, co-ordinator, Supt. Fran Nicholson, Fr. Ray Milton and Michelle Cox, Roscommon Co Council, pictured with: Rose Appleby, Anna Campbell, Ciara Carr, Hannah Murray, Michelle Rogers, Leo Gately, Kevin Beirne, Sarah Duggan, Juliette and Tom Gately. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin Clonown NS, who participated in the OK Kids Anti-Bullying Pilot Programme, supported by Roscommon Co. Council. In picture are: Cllrs. Paddy Kilduff, Cathaoirleach, Roscommon Council, Valerie Beirne, Kathleen Shanagher, John Naughten, Ivan Connaughton, John Cummins, Joe Murphy, Orla Leyden; Eugene Cummins, CEO, Roscommon Co. Council; Monica Monahan, Co-ordinator, Supt. Fran Nicholson, Fr. Ray Milton, pictured with Fiona O’Neill, Rachel Dunning, Theresa Farrell, Roisín O’Brien, Deirdre O’Brien, Sinead Kenny and Patricia Farrell. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin
< EOGHAN YOUNG-MURPHY
National schools at Clonown, Cornafulla, Knockcroghery and Ballymurray recently participated in an antibullying initiative called Roscommon OK Kids Anti-Bullying Pilot Programme. The schools were given plaques by Cllr. Paddy Kilduff, the Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council, at a function in Áras an Chontae last week. The council funded the pilot programme to the tune of €15,000. Monica Monahan, of the Anti-Bullying Institute, oversaw the programme. Speaking at last week’s function, she said: “Thank you to Roscommon County Council for leading the way and being the first council in the country to support an initiative like this.” Cllr. Kilduff noted that, according to the World Health Organisation, bullying carries a “significant risk to health”. “Students involved in bullying are at a significant risk of running away from home, alcohol and drug abuse, absenteeism and self-inflicted or accidental injuries,” he added. He said that the OK Kids Programme was a wholeschool, community approach to addressing and resolving bullying issues and promoting an anti-bullying culture. “It is an impressive collection of straightforward steps that cover the whole range of issues surrounding bullying,” Cllr. Kilduff said. “It raises awareness for students, parents and teachers. The programme is underpinned by gathering real data about where the issues are, and the school can use the statistics report to plan its anti-bullying policy. “Teachers and principals are given practical, simple modules. The school policy is adjusted to make everything from investigating to reporting and handling incidents of bullying completely transparent and easy to implement.” Cllr. Kilduff said that the focus of the programme was on creating a caring school that was a safe place for every student. “Everyone wins with this programme; no one loses,” he added.