Bullying Prevention Month In HV: Buddy Benches And More

We hope you've noticed over the past year that we've been focusing on bullying and cyberbullying, a confounding national crisis that turns youths' lives upside down with unimaginable angst and dread, sometimes with deadly consequences. With each article, we've heard poignant stories from Patch readers in New York and others who were bullied and overcame it, but also many who continue to struggle with the damage done by bullies to their self-esteem.

Many common threads emerged in emails from our readers: Teachers and other educators have suggested everything from first-period decompression time to classroom contracts with students on how they're expected to treat one another. But for all the readers who said schools need to do more to foster an anti-bullying culture, as many said parents should talk more with their kids about bullying and keep closer track on their social media habits.

And in a loud chorus, they said Americans need to stop wringing their hands and work at all levels to create a world safe from bullying.

That's one of the purposes of National Bullying Prevention Month, observed annually during October to bring attention to the problem and involve people in the Hudson Valley and nationwide in a conversation on how to create a world safe from bullying.

The Hudson Valley Participates In Bullying Prevention

Programs like Anonymous Alert, Buddy Benches, and "Start With Hello," a program started by Sandy Hook Promise, are underway in local schools along with special events. There are also a host of ongoing year-round initiatives in character education.

To kick off Bullying Prevention Month, Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Elmsford had a special ceremony Tuesday to mark the installation of new buddy benches.

“The buddy benches will enable our children to keep growing their circle of friends until everyone has someone to play with," said Sister Mary Stephen Healy, RDC, Principal at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. "If you are sitting on the bench, you are looking for a friend. When someone asks you to play, join them, and make new friends. If you are not sitting on the bench, ask your classmate on the buddy bench to play, and make a new friend today.”

A buddy bench has also been installed in South Orangetown, at William O. Schaefer Elementary School.

The buddy bench is a simple idea to eliminate loneliness and foster friendship on the playground.

Projects like the buddy bench are ways that schools across the Hudson Valley are taking on the topic of bullying.

"School communities can help students with bullying if you talk about it and create a safe environment for children," said Jacquie Woodruff, Principal Van Cortlandtville Elementary School in Lakeland. "Empowering students inclusive of adults who model kindness will bring the community together with positive outcomes. With the right kind of coaching anything can be possible!"

The Lakeland Central School District isn't limiting itself to October.

"All of our schools are holding assemblies throughout the year dealing with the subject of bullying. The October topic is Tolerance," said district spokesman Jim VanDevelde.

At Lincoln-Titus Elementary in Lakeland, they have been involved with the Sandy Hook Promise organization for a couple of years and are continuing the program "Start with Hello". At Thomas Jefferson, among other activities, staff has an assembly planned for world smile day Oct. 5.

Van Cortlandtville has a host of anti-bullying programs planned including the Uncle Brother Band "Stand Up To Bullies" concert and "Blue of Bullying Thursdays."

Like Lakeland, many school districts started early.

Starting Sept. 24, South Orangetown schools partnered with hundreds of other schools and youth organizations nationwide for “Start With Hello Week.” A Sandy Hook Promise initiative, “Start With Hello Week” promotes an inclusive school culture and aligns with the district’s comprehensive K-12 character education programming.

South Orangetown Middle School first participated in “Start With Hello Week” in 2016. All four schools participated this year.

In all buildings, 'Start With Hello' is one event in a much broader, comprehensive character education program. At Cottage Lane Elementary School, for example, the year-round character education program features words of the month and monthly assemblies, classroom morning meetings and activities to support.

William O. Schaefer Elementary School also does “Word of the Month” assemblies, morning meetings and activities and has its own buddy bench.

South Orangetown Middle School also has a character education program that speaks to the three B’s (Be Responsible, Be Respectful, Be Prepared). They have a new peer leadership program and are in their second year of participating in the New York Jets Jets Tackle Bullying/Upstander of the Week program. Tappan Zee High School has robust Peer Leadership and Citizen Leadership programs.

And for kids who are feeling isolated, South Orangetown rolled out its K-12 Help Card campaign in September.

The Lakeland schools also began using Anonymous Alerts Sept. 20. It is in a lot of neighboring schools including Croton-Harmon, Putnam Valley and Chappaqua. Anonymous Alerts is an app that allows students and parents to submit warnings about bullying and cyberbullying online.

Image via Shutterstock

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