Bullying Prevention Summit Slated For Hampton Bays

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — For years, Southampton Town has gotten tough on bullying — taking a strong stance to provide alternatives and hope.

To mark October's Bullying Prevention Month, Southampton Town Councilwoman Christine Scalera and the town's youth bureau are hosting an annual prevention workshop. The event, now in its seventh year, is aimed at raising awareness about those harmed by bullying and cyber-bullying — and to enhance action already taken by school districts.

Scalera and the youth bureau are partnering with the National Bullying Prevention Center to recognized October as "Bullying Prevention and Awareness Month."

"Each year has been a great success, but as the problem continues to exist, often with traumatic and even tragic consequences, it is my hope to continue to inform, provide strategies and tools and perhaps, most importantly, enhance awareness for school administrators, teachers, parents and our kids," Scalera said. "I am extremely excited for this year's event — we will be bringing a Bullying Prevention Summit to youth in our middle schools."

During the past six years, the focus has been on education for parents, youth and school officials — but this year's Bullying Prevention Summit "will bring together young Southampton Town leaders to discuss effective bullying and cyber-bullying prevention strategies and learn skills and resources that will empower them to be up-standers and to set an example for others," a release said.

Scalera has invited student representatives from grades six through eight from area schools to attend the summit, which will take place Hampton Bays Middle School on Oct. 24.

The students will participate in interactive activities with the Imaginarium Theater and staff from HUGS, Inc., and Act TWO Drama Troupe, share school specific strategies with each other and hear from presenters from the LGBT Network, the release said.

"Children also need strategies to help them negotiate today's cyber-world; too many mistakes are made behind the screen of an electronic device that might not be made during a face to face encounter," Southampton Youth Bureau Director Nancy Lynott said. "Today's youth communicate and get information primarily on their phones, and the toll of all too common negative encounters on social media is becoming increasingly serious."

"We need to reinforce a policy of zero tolerance when it comes to bullying and cyber-bullying. We owe it to our children," Scalera said.

For additional information on bullying prevention strategies. contact the Southampton Youth Bureau at 631-702-2425 or by clicking here.

Patch file photo.