Jets Tackle Bullying Assembly At Millburn Middle School

MILLBURN, NJ - The New York Jets hosted an assembly Friday for 7th and 8th graders as the culmination of the Millburn Middle School’s participation in the Jets Tackle Bullying program in the fall.

Millburn Middle School (MMS) teamed up with the New York Jets organization's Tackle Bullying Program to create a culture of upstanding in the school. An "upstander" is someone who stands up against bullying by helping someone who is being bullied.

It all began at a summer conference, before a Jets preseason game at MetLife Stadium, where educators from around the tri-state area met for an annual Anti-Bully Symposium where MMS was introduced to the Jets "Upstander of the Week" program.

“When you see someone being bullied and/or cyberbullied and you help them, you stop being a bystander and become an Upstander!” was the slogan.

The Millburn Middle School honored the 16 students who were recognized as Upstanders during the Jets season last fall. During the assembly, the students heard from the founder of Stomp Out Bullying, Ross Ellis, whose organization is a partner with the Jets in this anti-bullying campaign. Stomp Out Bullying is dedicated to changing the culture for all students. According to their website, the organization works to reduce and prevent bullying, cyberbullying, sexting and other digital abuse, educates against homophobia, LGBTQ discrimination, racism and hatred, and deters violence in schools, online and in communities across the country.

Jets starting center Jonotthan Harrison, spoke about being bullied during his school years, and shared statistics on bullying, like the fact that every seven minutes a child is getting bullied. He also shared five ways to be an upstander. Jets Senior Director of Community Relations, Jesse Linder, commended Millburn Middle School for its “exceptional school environment that does not tolerate bullying.”

The Middle School plans to continue the program next fall, and to grow it forward.

The 2018-19 Upstanders were:

• Alex Mayo
• Zariya Fryer
• Veertegh Minhas
• Julia Sayeau
• Jack Caplan
• Zachary BenMortis
• Marinella Silver
• Baruch Akwaboah
• Lauren Crespi
• Noalee Rubin
• Vanessa Wei
• Ben Li
• Andrew Search
• Evan Shidler
• Johan Dutch
• Emma Molozanov

Additionally, 8th grader Ellie Black has been named the newest Student Ambassador to the Stomp Out Bullying program. The program is coordinated at the Middle School by Guidance Counselor Dominick Pisa, the MMS Guidance team, and the support of parents Shelly and Scott Lasky.

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