Mount Vernon Students Wear Blue For World Day Of Bullying Prevention

MOUNT VERNON, NY — There's no better way to put a stop to bullying than standing up for yourself and others, and Mount Vernon students recently showed us just how it's done.

From the Mount Vernon City School District.

Blue shirts filled the halls of schools in the Mount Vernon City School District on Monday, October 7, 2024, as students and staff wore blue shirts to celebrate World Day of Bullying Prevention.

This celebration is the first of several National Bullying Prevention Month events organized by the District’s No Place for Hate (NPFH) coordinators. Orange will be worn to celebrate Unity Day on Wednesday, October 16, and Mix it Up at Lunch Day will be on Monday, October 28, where students will be encouraged to eat with new people at lunch and cross social boundaries to promote inclusion.

"We’re doing this so all students feel like they have a second home, someplace where they can feel safe and respected," said Mount Vernon Honor Academy Assistant Principal Shereene Shames. "I think what we do here, along with No Place for Hate and all the days we represent anti-bullying, are a good message and way for our students to remember why we are here and how respectful we should be to one another."

Many students at MVHA walked into school in the morning dressed in blue, signaling to other students that they are against bullying.

"Bullying is not fair, like if you’re bullying someone for being poor or if they don’t have any clean clothes to wear, and I’m wearing blue to stop bullying – virtual bullying or bullying in-person," said Talia Barnett, sixth-grade student at Mount Vernon Honor Academy.

At Traphagen School, students learned about bullying prevention and what to do if they see another student struggling.

"It’s important to show unity today, so we all came in blue," said Lisa DeSalvo, third-grade teacher at Traphagen School. "We want to stomp out bullying. It’s very important to be a buddy and not a bully. I teach my students that if someone is in need, if somebody needs a friend or someone is in trouble, there is always someone you can come and talk to. We can always try to find a solution and work out their problems and just show that we are a united front. It’s important to start talking to the children young, so they can incorporate these values and take them on to the next grades."

Students were proud to wear their blue and take a stand against bullying. This is the second year the District has celebrated World Day of Bullying Prevention, and many students came to school ready to participate.

"I’m wearing blue to prevent bullying because it can affect people and it’s really bad," said Chelsie Severino, fourth-grade student at Traphagen School.

At all schools in the District, a loud message was sent against bullying, as blue shirts could be seen in classrooms all across Mount Vernon.

Video of class saying "Stomp Out Bullying!"

This release was produced by the Mount Vernon City School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.