Danbury School Combats Bullying, Spreads #GoodNews with Wall of Kindness

“I am athletic.”

“I am smart.”

“I am creative.”

These are just a few positive messages that greet students and visitors near the front door of Rogers Park Middle School. The “I Am” wall at the school shows students that there are over 1,000 reasons to feel good about themselves and others.

Aimee Dos Santos, a certified school social worker, said of the ”I am” wall, “My thought process behind it is the labels kids give each other. Many teens aren’t comfortable recognizing the positive character traits they have.”

Initiated by the school as a way to create an atmosphere of acceptance among the students, the wall has led to students becoming interested in producing an anti-bullying music video, according to a press release from the school. One hundred students are participating in the project by designing the video and writing lyrics to accompany it using Taylor Swift’s song “Shake It Off.” The video is expected to be completed by March and will be posted on the school website.

Nationally, 28 percent of students in grades six through 12 reported being bullied, according to a release. The Danbury schools are working to ensure that “students understand the importance of treating others with respect, and acknowledging and accepting differences in others,” the release stated.

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