Have you ever sent your kid to school worried more about their safety than their education? I have for years, this year alone being the worst. 

As a teen myself going to John D Bracco school, I was almost abducted, the school knew but my parents were not called, I was bullied for my body, pushed up against lockers, prank called many times at my home, I was suicidal, and somehow managed to leave that school ALIVE after 3 horrific years.  I am one of MANY that have had the same or similar experiences. 

My daughter who is now in high school, went to John D Bracco in their Opportunity class.  She was left at Clareview rec centre on a field trip and walked back to school alone, was I called? No, my daughter was/is very good at communicating, she told me what happened.  Or the time she came home with her winter jacket tore up because someone on her school bus poked her many times with a nail file. 

My son is 12, we were at this point FORCED to send him to this school, as it is our “community school” and he is in an opportunity class as well.  He is new to Junior high, he was excited, new school, new friends, and more responsibilities as a growing boy, he was beaten up by a female a few weeks ago on their lunch break, my son was raised never to hit girls, he walked away and went to the office, I was not informed until the next day at the end of the school day.  On Tuesday, my son went to school like any other day, it was lunch break when my son was approached by someone he considered a friend and a kid in a wheel chair that my son didn’t know.  This child in the wheel chair called my son a “Ginger” and was told to fight him, when my son declined and tried to walk away he was punched in the face causing his nose to bleed and a bump on his lip.  Thankfully, my son texted me right away and I went to the school, I asked him how he is feeling his exact words were “I felt safe when you showed up” Pretty bad!!  I demanded to speak with the principal, she offered me 5 mins of her time, which I abruptly demanded this take as long as needed.  She said that if it goes over 5 mins she will put me with someone else.  Her lack of give a shit was overall what set me off.  Why are our kids not safe? 

I spoke with the school board (Liz Yule’s assistant) she said maybe the principal was busy, yada yada yada.  If they or the school took it so seriously as they claim to do then why is it such a fight to just have a meeting with SOMEONE, if Mrs Long (the principal) was too busy then why didn’t she automatically have someone else assist us? The school board is the same as the school, zero shits given.  They are out to defend themselves and their own. 

So I am starting this petition to make a change, we should not be FORCED to put our kids in a school they are not safe in, they should have proper supervision, a bit more care and consideration for the children they are taking care of when they are not in the care of their own parents.  I am also writing letters to Heather Sweet and Peggy Wright, the 2 MLA’s in the district to make this change.  

Please add a Peace Officer, maybe a full time social worker/counsellor so the kids have someone they can talk to comfortably.  Have more teachers out on supervision.  These are not hard requests to fulfill, to make this school safer for everyone! 

PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION TO HELP MAKE THIS SCHOOL A BETTER PLACE FOR KIDS. 

Thank you