School Notebook: Student Anti-Bullying Efforts

Here's a quick round-up of recent student achievements, projects and happenings within the school district.

Kids in Action
Fifteen students recently participated in the Our Kids in Action Youth Conference at .

Their participation was coordinated by Patricia Natalie, Ancy Paulose and Donna White, and the LMS students were among more than 2,500 students from more than 30 schools at this year’s conference.

The confab focused on self-respect and respect for others in an effort to raise awareness about bullying. Students at the conference discussed ways to help stop bullying, as well.

Keynote speaker Jamie Isaacs, an anti-bullying activist, spoke about her personal experience with bullying. She established a foundation to provide resources for parents and students, as well as a hotline for students who are feeling suicidal.

Lexxi Saal, a 14-year-old freshman from Deer Park High School, entertained and educated the students by singing about the emotional damages that bullying could cause. Former American Idol contestant Robbie Rosen also sent a taped message and song.

Beat It, Bully
While LMS students were learning how to prevent bullying, students participated in a special assembly on anti-bullying where young singer/songwriter Saal also spoke.

Saal entertained students as part of her tour entitled, “Beat It, Bully.” The theme of her songs was, “Don’t bully or gossip.”

Saal read aloud from the book Stop Picking on Me, a First Look at Bullying, and led an interactive paper exercise to demonstrate the effect of bullying. Then she sang four songs - three of which, Gossip Girl, Just Breathe and Winner - are her original compositions.

“I enjoy talking to children about bullying and how it hurts our society,” said Saal, whose career as a songwriter began after she performed the National Anthem in fifth grade.

She advised Alleghany students to talk to someone about bullying if they see someone acting up against another person: “If you see something, say something.”

For their part the students pledged, “I promise to live my life with compassion and tolerance because, inside, we are all the same.”

Political Conversation
students in Signey Emler’s United States history
honors class recently Skyped with Connor Brantley, a young man from Texas who's formed his own political party.

Brantly is a presidential history, government and political enthusiast who believes no one is too young to be involved in politics, and encourages other young people to participate in the political system. He's been featured on national and local television outlets.

Students worked with the library media center, and were able to ask Brantley questions about his bipartisan organization, United Now, and his participation in government.

“It was a great experience to see students interact with a young political activist,” said Coordinator and Library Media Specialist Tina Lackner.

Sharing Knowledge
German students in Mr. Week’s class at Lindenhurst High School, along with
members of the school’s German club, recently visited to educate fifth-grade students about the German culture.

The high school students gave the fifth graders a brief lesson on numbers, days of the week and months. Students then made cards using various German words, and learned how to sing Ten Little Indians in the language.

Photos and information submitted by Carol Hauser.