Millburn Celebrates 'Upstanders' With New York Jets

MILLBURN, NJ - With the help and commitment of the Jets NFL franchise, Millburn Middle School (MMS) is asking its students to “Jet Up” and help tackle bullying by becoming an 'upstander.'

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.

Each week during the 16 weeks of football season, a Millburn Middle student is nominated by their teachers as Upstander of the Week for demonstrating leadership qualities and kind behavior towards fellow students.

Not only are these students recognized in the classroom, on the marquee outside the school, and in the community, but the Jets help celebrate their achievement by awarding tickets to an upcoming home football game.

On Oct. 1st, with the help of one of the nation’s largest anti-bully organizations, STOMP Out Bullying, students were asked to “show their blue” and wear blue t-shirts in support of a World Anti Bullying Day.

School assemblies, and other continuing programs like peer leadership, devote aspects of their curriculum to demonstrate anti-bullying throughout the year. Millburn Middle School has also been selected as one of three schools in the New York Area to provide Teen Ambassadors for the Stomp Out Bullying Campaign.

While, this is the first year Millburn Middle School has introduced this program, it has been well-received by the community, and the hope is to have other schools join in the fight, officials said.

Nine students have been selected so far as Upstanders of the Week. On Oct. 14 the first group of Upstanders attended the Jets game to see the Jets beat the Colts.

While Millburn Middle School has always focused on building character and kindness within this school community, teaming with the Jets to Stomp Out Bullying, has been one more way to present this message to students and the community.

Congratulations to these Upstanders, and more to come:

• Week 1: 9/4 - 7L Alex Mayo
• Week 2: 9/11 - 6B - Zariyah Fryer
• Week 3: 9/18 - 8M – Veertech Minhas
• Week 4: 9/25 - 8L – Julia Sayeau
• Week 5: 10/1 - 6 M – Jack Caplan
• Week 6: 10/8 - 7B – Zachary Ben Morits
• Week 7: 10/15 - 6M – Marinella Silver
• Week 8: 10/22 - 8M – Baruch Akwaboah
• Week 9: 10/29 - 8L - Lauren Crespi

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

(Photo of Zariyah Fryer, Garrett Lasky and Veertegh Minhas courtesy of the Millburn School District.)

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