Newburyport Schools And North Shore Community Mediation Center (NSCMC) Committed To Positive School Climate

February 15, 2012

As a result of growing concern about school violence and student conflict, schools across the country are taking new measures to enhance the safety and well-being of students and faculty.

The City of Newburyport has demonstrated an exceptionally deep commitment to enriching school climate. Its proactive approach to preventing violence and improving communication and relationships among students offers a model for neighboring towns seeking to do the same.

Partnership between Newburyport Schools and the North Shore Community Mediation Center at the Nock Middle School

As part of this approach, the Newburyport School System has partnered with the North Shore Community Mediation Center (NSCMC). Last November, with financial support from the People’s United Bank, a group of exceptional students from Nock Middle School completed NSCMC’s twenty-hour peer mediation training.

As peer mediators, these students will serve as neutral third parties, facilitating a voluntary, confidential process that empowers students to solve their own conflicts.

Partnership between Newburyport Schools and the North Shore Community Mediation Center at Newburyport High School

Following the success of this training, Newburyport High School has received a generous donation from the Edward S. and Winifred G. Moseley Foundation to fund a twenty-hour training for a group of its own students. The training will take place this March.

Mediators from both the middle and high school will be invited to NSCMC’s annual Peer Mediators’ Forum, which is held in April and has featured a variety of inspirational speakers including last year’s Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Leymah Gbowee of Liberia.

The Forum brings together peer mediators from schools across Essex County that NSCMC has successfully partnered to foster conflict resolution skills and school safety.

Newburyport school officials are also working with NSCMC to design customized all-school programs and workshops for faculty members. School staff, administrators, and parents in Newburyport have expressed their excitement about these programs and about seeing positive change in their schools.

About The North Shore Mediation Center

The North Shore Community Mediation Center, Inc. (NSCMC), an independent non-profit corporation begun in 1994, provides alternative dispute resolution and training services to the communities of the North Shore. Volunteer mediators from NSCMC work to promote better understanding and communication by offering high quality mediation services to those in conflict.

For more information about Peer Mediation and North Shore Community Mediation Center in Beverly call 978-232-0002 or visit the North Shore Community Mediation Center (NSCMC) website.