CORONA-NORCO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT:

I just read this article in The Weekly about the efforts Corona-Norco Unified School District are making to get control over anti-bullying in schools.

The article is written by Shane Newell and it states, “Corona-Norco district’s campaign introduces to report incidents”.

It goes on to speak about how students can go to this website, the district has developed, and report any incidences on the webpage in regards to bullying or cyber-bullying, in the privacy of their own home.  Their message will go to the district and be read by an administrator, said Corona-Norco Administrator Director, Mike Ilic, and will be handled accordingly.

I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this nor am I sure it’s a step in the right direction in solving the problem.  First of all, on a positive note, I think this a great resource for students to have.  It will allow them the opportunity to speak up in the privacy of their homes and without the ridicule from other students, and possibly the bully, seeing them going into and out of the principal’s office.  Plus, speaking to the principal or an administrator may be scary for some students, preventing them from speaking up on this important matter.

However, my concern is how is the district going to handle it once they receive this information?  Second, how will they distinguish between who is the one being bullied, seeking support and help, and who may be using this support system in a negative way, such as to spread gossip.  Don’t we already have our children being isolated from communication with our social media?  Now, once again, they don’t have to face anyone, but sit behind their computers and iPhones saying things they don’t have the courage to say to someone face to face.  Let’s see how intimidating the bully is without their shield, called social media, but true communication.

I believe the district is trying to make efforts to move forward, solving our problem with bullying, but unfortunately, I am a little worried about the district’s intentions.  Are they really concerned or simply trying to protect themselves with a paper trail and following the guidelines of the new mandated state laws, to save face?

I’m worried that the school district is already too involved in our kids personal lives, and it is up to us parents to stand up and teach our children right from wrong. We need to teach them that bullying is wrong and it is unjust to be unkind.  We grew up with the saying, “Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will never hurt us.”  That is a lie we have instilled into our society and our parents and our children.  Words do hurt and sometimes they can kill, indirectly of course, but you get my point.

If any of you have an opinion on this subject, please feel free to comment in the comment section of our blog.  We would love to hear what you all have to say about Anti-bullying resources and strategic planning to put an end to this once and for all.

By using the following two hashtags, you can spread positive awareness on bullying and cyper-bullying:

#CNUSDisKind

#CNUSDitTakesaVillage

This Saturday we will be participating in one of the many Walks Out of Darkness, hosted and organized by The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. This walk takes place in the Coachella Valley in Cathedral City, California. We, and many others who will be attending this event, walk for those who we’ve lost to suicide, we walk for those who are struggling with suicidal ideation, and we walk for the cause of suicide prevention.

During the Honor Bead Ceremony, we have been asked to each write something about our experience and a message of hope for those who are suffering from the loss of losing someone they love to suicide or someone who may be suffering with thoughts of suicide.  At that time, we will be releasing a white dove, which is symbolic to peace, love, and hope.

The walks are important because they help survivors realize they are not alone and there is a large community of people who have experienced a similar trauma. Also, it represents the ones we’ve lost to suicide in many ways: their pictures are posted along the sidewalks with a quote from them, and people wear shirts with their pictures or name on it. Also, different colored beads are handed out to represent why each person supports the walk. Orange is for loss of a sibling to suicide, and white is for loss of a child to suicide.

Spreading awareness and participating in community events to help prevent suicide is one of our biggest goals. We thank the AFSP for inviting us to yet another walk to display our foundation’s booth and give out our resources.

STOPPING GUN VIOLENCE

California State PTA – EveryChild. OneVoice.

March 14, 2018 is “CALL OUT” To End Gun Violence

2018 National PTA Legislation Conference is happening with federal lawmakers in Washington D.C. on March 13-15, 2018:

• Prohibiting the sale and possession of assault weapons, including automatic and semi-automatic weapons
• Mandatory background checks
• Waiting periods for all firearm purchases

The Jewels’ Angels Foundation, Inc. supports stopping gun violence, especially in our schools:

• Stricter regulations and controls
• Mental illness background checks
• Gun owner responsibility – mandated by the Government
• Mandatory gun safety (guns safely locked up) random searches by the NRA
• Schools equipped with metal detectors
• Gun safety education in school curriculum
• Mandatory emergency drills (what to do if faced with a school shooting)
• Social Media responsibility – alert proper authorities if faced with potential threatening posts or pictures; either in regards to self-harm or violence towards others
• Teens being rewarded for speaking up if they know or hear of another teen speaking out about hurting someone else or hurting themselves

Every voice matters…we must stop gun violence!

SoCo 4TH ANNUAL PING PONG TOURNAMENT

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 24 @ JOE’S BAR

Starts @ 12 PM / Check-In @ 11 AM

Entry Fee:  $25.00 per person

Proceeds Benefiting The Jewels’ Angles Foundation, Inc.

Sign up @ Joe’s

124 W. Commonwealth Ave.

Fullerton, CA 92832

INSIDE THE MIND OF SUICIDE:

4 AM

I am stuck in a dream

Don’t want to leave so I refuse to scream

I tripped and fell into a new life,

screaming because someone has a knife.

Don’t fret, just your imagination

You’ve made a fabulous creation

The grass grows long so you lay

Wishing you’d fade away

You don’t want to leave this sleep,

because you don’t want to weep.

So you wish and pray

that you won’t wake up the next day

I am stuck in a dream

JW

Our identity is important to all of us; such as, who are we and what is our purpose? The adolescent years is when we begin to form our personal identities and build on our self-concept and self-esteem. These years are crucial to an adolescent development because it is important to have a sense of who you are and what your morals are.

Virtually all teenagers become increasingly concerned about other’s opinions, but those who are overly dependent on social acceptance and approval from their peers, place their self-worth “on the line” (Harter & Whitesell, 2003). This can be hazardous to an adolescent’s self-worth because they are searching for acceptance and validation from other people instead of within themselves. Teenagers who rely on other’s opinions to fuel their own self-identity may end up feeling depressed. Establishing a strong self-identity throughout the adolescent years is necessary for normal development through relationships, morality, and a sense of worth.

This is the time in their young lives when they are trying to figure out who they are.  They may act differently while hanging out with certain friends or with different social groups, than they do when they are at home with their family.  These conflicting feelings of who they really are and who they are supposed to be may confuse them. They have not yet learned the necessary coping skills an adult may have to deal with these contradicting behaviors of self-concept. This may be dangerous to their self-worth.

As adults we know that self-concept is fluid, and that it is okay to change a little bit based on different situations or environments. For example, one may not behave the same at work as they do at a party with their best friend. We mold our self-identities slightly based on the appropriateness of the situation. Because self-identity is so new to teenagers, they are still learning how to navigate this and it may be sensitive to them.

BE PATIENT WITH YOURSELF

TELLING FRIENDS AND FAMILY SHE’S GONE

When my daughter died, I remember making a mental list in my head of everyone I knew.  I wanted to call everyone within the first few days, with the horrible news that my daughter had taken her life, at the young age of fourteen years old; she was only a Freshman in high school.

Looking back now, I think I wanted to get it out-of-the-way and be done with the dread of having to make these ghastly phone calls.  I knew I had to do it, after all, I was her mom, but it was one of the hardest things to do, calling all our friends, family, and acquaintances.

As hard as it was emotionally, it allowed me the allotted time and it was under my terms.  I didn’t want to be surprised later, when I wasn’t emotionally prepared to deal with the conversations of “how’s Jewels doing?”  This indorsed me to take back the control in a situation where all my control had been taken away from me.

Did I remember everyone?  Pretty much, but I did forget one person on my mental list and to this day, I haven’t told him, and it’s been a little over a year now since she’s been gone.  I like to pretend she’s still here when he asks about her.

I’ll need to tell him eventually.  We don’t see each other too often, but it’s kind of nice having one friend who doesn’t look at me with sad eyes and I can pretend, just for an hour, to be the person I used to be before Jewels’ suicide.

Although society, media, and family stress the point that the Holidays are “happy”, not everyone may feel this sense of joy.  For many of us, the holidays are a time of stress, loneliness, and loss.  We may be missing someone who has passed on or left us.

Remember to surround yourself with people who love you.  Stay away from toxic relationships and situations.

Stay good to your body; take care of yourself by eating healthy, drinking plenty of water, and exercising.

Stay good to your mind by listening to yourself, being patient with your emotions / feelings, and doing things that are good for you.

We may not always feel “happy”, but patience and accepting your feelings as they come, is good advice.  Trying to avoid them or pretend they don’t exist my be toxic for your mind and body.

Stay true to yourself, you are worth it!

The Jewels’ Angels Foundation wants to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of Holidays to all.

Thank you for all your support during this year, helping us with our fight to ending teen depression and spreading awareness on suicide.

We look forward to even more progress during the new year in 2018.  We won’t stop our fight on suicide awareness / prevention, until no child or adult has to suffer with the horrible feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, helplessness, and self-hate.

We love you and remember…YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

The Jewels’ Angels Foundation is sponsoring a toy drive in our local community of Corona, CA.

During the last week before Christmas, we are collecting new unwrapped toys and clothes for children /teens, ranging from ages between 1 month to 18 years old.

Saturday December 23rd we will donate these items to the Parent Center and Corona Mission for them to distribute amongst the families who are financially struggling this year.

The Jewels’ Angels Foundation wishes to make this Christmas a happier time for our families in need during this holiday season.

Please contact us directly through e-mail or send us a private message to obtain the location to drop off your gift.

Thank you for supporting our cause to make this world a better place and help to end teen depression and spread awareness on suicide.