Dodgeball Game Wraps Anti-Bullying Week

The final event of "Stomp Out Bullying Week" at was a dodgeball game that both students and teachers were anticipating for bragging rights and comradery.

Classes competed against each other for the right to play against the teachers in  a championship game.

When the multicolored rubber balls stopped flying around Lakeview's gym, the junior class was the school dodgeball champion.

As the juniors lost the first game in the best of three series, they were cheered on to victory by their fellow classmates who stayed in the stands.

"I was so impressed all the kids stayed to watch," said teacher Matt Barranca, a teacher sponsor of the SoEmo (Social Emotional) group that planned the week. "It was almost like this week was a bonding experience for the school against an injustice."

The idea for the week came from the district's strategic plan, which calls for the social and emotional development of students. While the district's plan encourages students to "demonstrate tolerance," it was the students who planned and organized the week.

• Monday: Students signed a commitment to stop bullying.
• Tuesday: Students analyzed lyrics of four songs and determined whether or not the songs encourage friend and romantic relationships.
• Wednesday: Concerned students took a vow of silence to bring attention to the name-calling, bullying and harassment that some students are exposed to.
• Thursday: Statistics were given in each class period and teachers were asked to visually represent these statistics in their classrooms, such as one in four kids are bullied and every fourth kid stands up.
• Friday: Students complimented their classmates during second hour.

"I think this exceed expectations," said Lakeview assistant principal Heather Huber. "Nationally there is a heightened awareness of bullying."

According to www.stompoutbullying.org, which is not affiliated with the Lakeview event, one out of four kids are bullied and 42 percent of kids have been bullied while online.

Students said they found the week helpful, and the dodgeball game was an enjoyable way to finish the week.

"I think it has been a good week," said Christian Veltri, 19, of St. Clair Shores, through his sign interpreter Fay Mannion. "I think people understand (about bullying) and I (was) excited (for the game)."