Troy Union Blacks Out Against Bullying

Today, on World Kindness Day the Troy Union Elementary community hosted their first ever “Black out Against Bullying” event, to raise awareness about Kindness, and on the flip side, Bullying. TU Media Center Specialist Ruba Alexander spearheaded the event, and was so pleased with the students’ enthusiasm and ownership: “We discuss cyberbullying in media and how to stay safe online and since October is Bullying awareness month and November is about showing and spreading kindness we did school wide lessons in media. We did a ‘chalk talk’ about bullying, learning what it is, what it looks like, sounds like and feels like. Our social worker, Kelly Cordozo went into each classroom and talked to the kids about bullying.”

Students took the message to heart, and each grade level had their own projects: Kindergarten made “Be Kind” necklaces where the inner heart pops out and they can give a piece of their heart to someone. First grade made Be Kind Keychains for their backpacks. 2nd and 3rd Grade made antibullying buttons--one for themselves and one to pass on to someone else. 4th graders thought about where problems happen the most and decided it was at recess, so they designated certain spots on the playground to put signs that they made with kindness messages on them. TU’s 5th graders learned how to use Cricut Design Space and came up with their own message to put on their tshirts, like Kindness Matters, Friendship Rules, Don’t Bully—Be Happy, We Rise by Lifting Others. They also personalized the back with fabric paint. And finally, TU’s Eagle Edits News Team put together the Kindness Matters video that was played at the beginning: https://vimeo.com/770838538

As the lights went out and each students’ glow stick glowed, it seemed that everyone played their part to get the word out loud and clear that bullying was bad and kindness is cool, culminating in this super positive, colorful and upbeat assembly. What amazing young people we are educating!

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Photos courtesy of Troy Schools

https://vimeo.com/770838538 -- Kindness Matters Video

https://vimeo.com/773438338 -- Rock the Runway Video