News & Announcements

Press Release
February 26, 2009

The Violence Prevention Institute will present a Gang Awareness Program on Wednesday, March 11, 2009, at 6:30PM in the Washington Community School Auditorium for parents of all students in grades 6 through 12. All sixth graders in the district will also attend the Cops and Docs Program sponsored by the Institute. Duane J. Dyson, M.D FAAEM., and Motivational Speaker-Hashim Garrett of Wisdom & Understanding, LLC will be presenting the program which focuses on youth violence, awareness and prevention. It works to prevent violence by educating students about the legal, medical, and emotional consequences of youth gun possession and other related violence such as gangs and bullying. This program has been presented to more than 15,000 youth in New Jersey schools, juvenile detention centers and other youth-related venues, and has been highly received by students, parents and communities.

Mary F. Moloney, Director of Student Personnel Services, stated, "This program is being coordinated by the Bayonne Public School Guidance Department. It is a great opportunity to help our parents to be aware of signs of gang activity, and also to educate our children. Counselors attended the presentation by Dr. Dyson and Mr. Garrett in November and found it to be powerful. These workshops are made possible by Municipal Alliance Funding, 21st Century Grant, and the Bayonne Medical Center.

Patricia L. McGeehan, Ed. D., Superintendent of Schools commented, "We are thrilled to be able to present programs such as these for parents and students. Through grant funding we are able to present them at no cost to the local school district."