Croton-Harmon Students Take Stand against Bullying

From Croton-Harmon School District:

Students throughout the Croton-Harmon School District paused to commemorate Unity Day on Oct. 19 by wearing orange and participating in a number of themed activities that encouraged them to unite for inclusion and kindness and against bullying.

At Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School, students signed a pledge to stand up to bullies during lunch and heard a story from Assistant Principal Michael Plotkin about a student who stood up for a peer who was being bullied and went on to become the class valedictorian.

“This is our third year observing this special day and heightening awareness about bullying,” said Plotkin. “If the point of the unity movement is to bring awareness to this issue. There is nothing more proactive than creating an environment in which no one feels alone or alienated. In inclusive school environments, the effects of bullying are minimized and negative behaviors are less likely to occur. When students get to know people they do not regularly interact with, it enhances empathy and respect.”

PVC students embraced these ideas by “mixing it up” at lunchtime and sitting with new friends. As they entered the cafeteria, they were assigned a table number where they got to know classmates by asking each other questions such as, “What superpower would you most want to have?” and “If you could meet anyone in history, past or present, who would you want to meet and why?”

At Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School, students started the day by listening to “friendship” announcements made by fourth-graders and constructed a unity chain around the school. In addition, students learned a song about unity in music class, while second-graders wrote about what friendship means to them. Fourth-grade students also created paper dolls explaining what friendship means to them and joined them together in the fourth-grade wing.

“It is our goal to continue the theme of ‘CET – United in Friendship’ throughout the year,” said Assistant Principal Kerri Bianchi.

Photos courtesy of Croton-Harmon School District