"...the movie is a very intense depiction of an issue that must be dealt with earnestly at all levels everywhere. "  

Review of movie "Bully" by Aishwarya Aravind

The movie 'Bully' poignantly portrays in three short stories, the impact of bullying on three different children. Overall, the movie is a very intense depiction of an issue that must be dealt with earnestly at all levels everywhere. I recommend further discussion

regarding bullying of school children, so administrators can get student input and take the necessary action to curb it.

Here are brief summaries of these three stories:

 1.  In the first story, the movie shadows the oldest boy of a family of two parents and four children. This boy considers bullies to be his friends even though they pick on him, call him names, and make fun of him. His mother talks to him when she notices damage to his belongings or when there was bodily harm to him, but she does not know the full extent of this issue since he does not tell her about it. On the bus to school, he undergoes physical harassment. The film makers at this point bring the footage to the administration and parents due to the increasing harm to the boy. During the parent meeting with the vice principal, the latter does not say anything to alleviate the parents' concern for their son. Furthermore, she also describes the bullying children on the bus "as good as gold" even when the video footage proves otherwise. This was one of many meetings that the parents have had with the vice principal but with none of them yielded any assurance of safety for their son. Later on, a guidance counselor meets with the boy to discuss his troubling experience and she asks him why he did not come to her about this problem. He replies that complaining has not worked in the past. She becomes defensive and recalls a past case when this boy raised a different bully issue that she felt was addressed. The boy responds, rather sadly, that that complaint only addressed one type of issue, and that the bully still does other things to hurt him. 

Note: The audience laughed at the obvious disregard shown by the vice principal.

2. The second story follows an African American girl who lives with her single mother and also has extended family/close friends.

This story begins with her mom proudly showing off her daughter's "comfort area" and her numerous basketball awards. The mom recollects her daughter telling her that she was going to join the Navy and help out her mom who works long hours to support her daughter. The mom then describes how she received the

call from the police but that she did not believe them at first until they identified "the girl" as her daughter. This girl was so overwhelmed with fellow students bullying her on the bus that she took her mother's gun and brandished it around on the school bus. She totaled more than 20 misdemeanors for taking out the

gun in the bus that was full of children. She was being bullied for her race and ethnicity, but the administration did not do anything about it. She says later, "I didn't mean to do anything" but was constantly frustrated but the persistent bullying she had to endure on a daily basis.

3. The third and final story follows a homosexual girl, the daughter of parents who teach at church, in a predominantly Christian community. The parents, the dad especially, states that they taught their students that homosexuality is a sin "till it happens to you". Despite the fact that these parents have taught so many families in their town, everyone shuns this family just because of their daughter's personal choice. Everyone at school, including the

teachers, makes fun of her, taunt her, and single her out. The girl mentions that she could have received a scholarship for her basketball skills, but after the coach found out, she wasn't even allowed to play. However, she has three good friends (three other girls) who keep her happy and curb the depression she had

been facing, including doing such things as cutting her wrists). Her parents had proposed that they can move so she can have a better environment to live in, but she said declined the offer saying that this "will let them win." In the end, however, the dad says the family is moving to a place that will inspire and not bring down his daughter.

CLASS OF 2013 

HEADED TO DISNEYLAND FOR GRAD NITE!

Grad Nite will be the day after graduation, Friday, June 21, 2013. Participants will meet at the school at 7:00 a.m. and will travel by bus to Disneyland for an afternoon of enjoying both Disneyland and California Adventure. Then, at 11 p.m. they will head to California Adventure for a private party!

The cost for the trip is $175, with a price increase set for January 12, 2013. Registration will begin soonand individual fundraising opportunities are available. Visit the Grad Night section of the Irvington.org website for more trip details, updates, plus fundraising and volunteer information.

Once again, we are off to a terrific start! Chamber Choir, Treble Choir, Concert Choir, Viking Jazz and Fresco Femme are ready to start a new year !! Last year was a HUGE success with Treble Ensemble taking 4th place at the ACDA Women's Festival last year which features the best Women's Choirs in Northern California. Our program is growing and we are so excited about this year!! If you would like to be in choir, please see Mrs. Olson in 123 to start singing with us!!!

FREE HOLIDAY CONCERT: Join us December 13 at 7 p.m. in Valhalla for our annual Winter Holiday concert. A family fun event to kick off the holiday season.

SINGING BIRTHDAY TELEGRAMS: Do you have someone special you would like to receive a singing birthday telegram? The IHS Chamber Chorale will visit a classroom on campus or call if off campus and sing them Happy Birthday Irvington style for only $5!! For more info, email or call Mrs. Olson  jolson@fremont.k12.ca.us or 510-656-5711 x 46423.

CARAMEL APPLES COMING AGAIN!!  Due to VERY popular demand, we will be selling hand dipped caramel apples from DeBrito Brothers this January for Valentine's Day delivery. Contact Mrs. Olson or a choir member to order. Don't miss out! 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR - Dates for IHS Vocal music

December 13: Winter Concert 7 p.m. in Valhalla

January 7-18: Gourmet Caramel Apple Sale (delivery for Valentine's Day)

February 20: CSUEB Chamber Festival 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Feb 23: ACDA Women's Festival (Treble & Chamber Women)

March 14: Spring Musical Opens!

June 4: Spring Concert 7 p.m. "It's All Kids' Stuff"

June 20 - Graduation (All Seniors)

Irvington High Library Receives STEM Grant from 

American Association of University Women

Great News: Irvington's library and the PTSA have received a $7,000 grant from the American Association of University Women (AAUW) for a program to attract young women to Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) and Health fields! The grant will provide up-to-date resources for the library and will fund a speaker and field trip series featuring local female STEM professionals.

We are now seeking female STEM professionals and organizations from the community to speak to our students and to host field trips! Please call Project Director Allyson McAuley at 510-656-5711 extension 46376 if you would be willing to speak to our students or host a field trip at your workplace.

The American Association of University Women has been working to expand opportunities for women of all ages for 130 years, and is one of the largest sources of educational funding in the United States for equal opportunities for girls.

Why girls in STEM? Irvington has three successful career pathway academies related to STEM fields, but there is a need to equalize enrollment. Only 17% of our ITA academy enrollment was female last year, despite strong efforts by staff to attract girls. Since students self-enroll, the issue is attracting girls to choose these areas of study. Nationally, studies show dramatic underrepresentation of women in STEM fields, a major concern when the Department of Labor estimates that the majority of new jobs over the next few decades will be in these fields. At the same time, our school library receives less than a dollar per student per year, and the average age of the science collection is 1994! Without current resources, it is difficult for teachers to attract girls to STEM studies. Negative stereotypes also make a significant difference, according to a 2011 AAUW study. Exposing girls to positive images of women in STEM fields can encourage their interest in these programs in high school and college.

This year, the PTSA, the school library, and teachers have partnered to develop a yearlong program aimed at young women but benefitting all students. With the AAUW grant, the library will acquire new materials in a particular area related to the existing Science, Technology, and Health curriculum and schedule a speaker and a field trip to occur within the same time period that the new materials are released. The process will be repeated with different STEM areas throughout the year.

We are still looking for women STEM professionals in any area, from engineering to astronomy, from genetics to digital graphics, who are interested in partnering on this project. We have a lot of talent and enthusiasm out there in our community! If you are interested in participating, please contact Allyson McAuley at 510-656-5711 ext 46376.

Hello,

We have launched the 'Students of PTSA' club for students. The club's Executive Board is already active and has started the 'SUPER 16' program to celebrate the 16th birthday of each student at the school.

Our 'Student achievement recognition' program will start this month. With the help of the school staff we will be able to reward deserving students.  By acknowledging their determination and their effort we believe that this program will encourage the youth at our school to make the right choices and stay on the path of progress.

Interested parents who are unable to attend evening PTSA meetings can now attend Daytime PTSA meetings.  The meetings are held on every Friday at 1:30 pm. I urge all parents, who can, to attend the meetings. Connecting with other parents is a great way to learn about the school as well as to get a few teen parenting tips.

National PTA arts program, Reflections entries are due by October 24th.

Our upcoming event and association meeting is on November 1st. All Reflections participants will be awarded a certificate and their work will be on display. The speakers for the evening are IHS teachers who will answer questions from the audience.

Please visit our webpage www.irvington.org/PTSA to get our news.

IHS PTSA President 2012-13 

Parents and Community Members

FAC Needs You!

The Board of Education Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) invites you to become a member. 

The purpose of the committee is to advise the Board and Superintendent on the District budget and recommend District policies to ensure that the community is informed on the financial condition of Fremont Unified School District.

FAC generally meets the second Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m.  The committee is a combination of Community Representatives and FUSD Employee Organization Representatives.   At this time, we have five (5) openings available for community members.

If you would like to contribute in the      development for improving communications and understanding of the District's financial condition and study needed programs and legislation on educational finance, please apply for a position.

The application is located on the District website at: www.fremont.k12.ca.us; Committees tab; pull down to Financial Advisory Committee.

If you have any questions, please contact the office of Raul Parungao, Assistant Superintendent of Business, at 510-659-2572.