Blue Worn for World Day of Bullying Prevention

MOUNT VERNON – A sea of blue entered schools as children and staff wore blue to commemorate the start of National Bullying Prevention Month and World Day of Bullying Prevention on October 2, 2023. The District’s No Place for Hate (NPFH) coordinators planned this event to raise awareness about bullying and to take a stand against hate, bias, bullying, and unkind acts of intolerance.

Several students at Grimes School took the anti-bullying message to heart and believe that initiatives like this can help people realize that everyone deserves kindness.

“If you bully then people might get hurt. When we prevent it, nobody will get hurt and we’ll be ok,” said Giselle Torres, fifth grade student at Grimes.

Andrew Robinson, a fifth grader at Grimes, also believed the anti-bullying message could help people who are unable to speak up for themselves.

“You shouldn’t bully people because you don’t know what people are going through,” said Andrew, “You want to treat people the same way you want to be treated.”

Mercedes Quinteros, seventh and eighth grade Living Environment teacher, tasked her eighth grade technology class with developing anti-bullying public service announcements (PSAs) to submit in the schoolwide anti-bullying PSA contest.

“This activity required students to research what bullying is and why PSA’s are important,” said Ms. Quinteros. “Through this research, students learned that bullying isn’t just a school-based issue and can impact anyone. They also learned the detrimental effects bullying can have on children as they get older.

Students at Denzel Washington School of the Arts also came to school wearing blue in support of the anti-bullying initiative.

“You never know what anyone is going through, so don’t be mean to people,” said DaviAnna Thomas, ninth grade student at DWSA. “This brings awareness and a little reminder because sometimes people can be mean, and they don’t even realize it. So, a little reminder about not being a bully helps.

“This activity required students to research what bullying is and why PSA’s are important,” said Ms. Quinteros. “Through this research, students learned that bullying isn’t just a school-based issue and can impact anyone. They also learned the detrimental effects bullying can have on children as they get older.

Students at Denzel Washington School of the Arts also came to school wearing blue in support of the anti-bullying initiative.

“You never know what anyone is going through, so don’t be mean to people,” said DaviAnna Thomas, ninth grade student at DWSA. “This brings awareness and a little reminder because sometimes people can be mean, and they don’t even realize it. So, a little reminder about not being a bully helps.

Most students at Lincoln School wore blue and many were also wearing blue “Stomp Out Bullying” shirts.

Students at Rebecca Turner Academy participated in an anti-bullying assembly and learned more about No Place for Hate. Jennifer Goire-Peralta, school counselor, delivered the presentation to the students.

This is the first of several anti-bullying events in the district. The Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) NPFH kickoff will be October 12th and Unity Day will be October 19th. Staff, students and families will be asked to wear an orange shirt on Unity Day to send a visible message that no child should ever experience bullying.

“Schools are using this day, and other days throughout the month, to educate their students and families about bullying and the supports that are available,” said Dr. Jamal Doggett, assistant superintendent for Elementary Curriculum, Instruction and Administration and one of the District’s NPFH leaders. “Staff and families were encouraged to visit www.stompoutbullying.org to learn more about how you can talk to their children and students about bullying.”