‘Bias Busters’ Volunteer at Holiday Party for Underprivileged Kids

’s Bias Busters, a select group of students “dedicated to preventing disharmony and bias behavior, while helping maintain cooperation and unity within the middle school student body,” according to their faculty advisors, volunteered at the New Jersey Apartment Association’s Holiday Party for underprivileged children at the Meadowlands Expo Center Monday.

The middle school’s Bias Busters welcomed kids from four to 10 years old “with holiday songs and cheers when they arrived,” said Nina Anderson, faculty advisor to the group, along with Kathy Larson.

“The students assisted those less fortunate throughout the event by serving lunch, face painting, playing games, dancing with the children, visiting characters such as Bob the Builder and Scooby Doo, and doing arts and crafts. The students capped off the party with a visit from Santa and a ‘toy store line’ where children were allowed to select a gift from amongst hundreds of different toys,” Anderson said.

Students need to “maintain academic excellence and outstanding leadership skills while fostering unity among the diverse population of the middle school,” according to Anderson.

“Students must respect each other, listen, maintain confidentiality and volunteer for community service,” she said. “Members of the group facilitate mediations between students when issues arise of a bias nature.”

“Mix It Up Day,” an annual national event sponsored by Teaching Tolerance is also lead by Bias Busters at Lewis F. Cole. 

“During that event, students are sent to various tables during their lunch period in an effort to meet new people and win small prizes,” Anderson said. “Bias Busters also supports various charities and contributes to ‘dress down days’ to help find cures for various illnesses and diseases.”