Student representatives from the Arc Tech and Greenview Aspirations teams led an anti-bullying program for sixth graders at Greenview Upper Elementary on Thursday, February 27th. Titled “Be an Upstander – You Can Make a Difference”, the interactive program utilized student-led small groups to learn and share about the impact of bullying, why being a passive bystander encourages it and how they can take a stand against bullying in their school by choosing to be an ‘upstander’. Approximately eight Arc Tech students facilitated the hour-long program, which was held in the main cafeteria and computer lab. Each of the program’s five sessions included fifty students separated into groups of ten at each table, which was overseen by one Arc Tech and Greenview Aspiration Team member respectively.
Prior to attending Thursday’s program, Greenview’s sixth graders completed a ‘bully bystander’ questionnaire. At the beginning of each session, student volunteers shared some of their answers with members of the Arc Tech Aspirations Team. The students then answered questions on a short pre-test to see how much prior knowledge they possessed concerning the issue of bullying. This was followed by an engaging video presentation which detailed the different types of bullying that can occur in school, as well as testimonies from real students on how their lives have been impacted by witnessing or experiencing bullying. The Arc Tech Aspiration Team members then facilitated a discussion at their respective tables regarding the important points featured in the video, as well as provided the sixth grade students the opportunity to share about what they learned. Finally, the students were given an ‘Upstander Contract’ to read, sign and return to their classroom teacher, which demonstrates their pledge to take a stand against bullying and be an ‘upstander’ at Greenview Elementary.
This marks the first year the anti-bullying program has been implemented in the South Euclid-Lyndhurst Schools. It is part of Social Advocates for Youth (SAY), a prevention and early intervention program for teens sponsored by Bellefaire, a local child welfare agency. The program was coordinated by Arc Tech Social Worker and SAY Coalition Coordinator Nancy Schaumburg, as well as Greenview School Counselor Lisa Artino.
The South Euclid-Lyndhurst Schools wish to thank the students and staff who helped to make this program possible, and for encouraging fellow students to take a stand against bullying.