About four years ago, administration at SHS gathered and discussed a growing problem they saw, bullying. When they gathered, Jorie Depalma, the school’s social worker, and other administrators came up with an idea about the bullying hotline.

The bullying hotline is a number that students can call anonymously and bring forward an incident where bullying has taken place. Students can be anonymous, but the more information the better. If the caller would like, Depalma says administrators would like the names of students involved and information about the situation.

“It is an anonymous hotline, but obviously the more information you give us, or you leave, the better so we can look into the situation,” Depalma said.

Depalma checks the hotline every single morning, she keeps a log of the date and time she checks it, and if anyone leaves a message. Most of the time, she says that there are no messages, but occasionally she will receive one. If they do get a message, they would investigate that and proceed with documentation.

Their goal is that the hotline will allow students to feel comfortable with making a report Depalma says. There are flyers in every classroom, all around the school. At the beginning of each school year, the administration makes sure that teachers are aware that the flyers need to be posted.

“Really, I think it is for bystanders, because a lot of times, kids think that to be involved in a bullying situation, they have to be the one being bullied, or the bullier,” Depalma said.

She says that some of the most important people involved are the bystanders, the kids who see things happening and Depalma says she needs them to let her know so they can address it.  To find the bullying hotline number, there are flyers all over the school, in classrooms and in the guidance office.