PKMS Joins Hundreds of Schools Nationwide to 'Stomp Out Bullying'

Bullying. It’s something no child should ever have to fear and students at Peekskill Middle School are taking a stand to let others know that the practice has no place in their school. Recently PKMS students and staff joined hundreds of other schools across the nation in an effort to “STOMP Out Bullying” by wearing blue on October 6 for Blue Shirt Day, which is held in recognition of October being National Bullying Prevention Month.

STOMP Out Bullying is the leading national bullying and cyber bullying prevention organization for kids and teens. The organization’s efforts were extended to the Peekskill Middle School with the help of 7th Grade Guidance Counselor Jacqueline Kilanowski and Assistant Principal Dr. June Ann Campolongo.

“I think all children need to be aware of this,” Dr. Campolongo said. “It really enforces the saying, ‘If you see something say something.’ And this campaign is helping kids to join forces and become friends. I’ll tell you, the students are really empowered by this.”

In addition to wearing blue for the one day, PKMS administration and faculty have planned a month of anti-bullying related activities and information sessions. At each week’s Town Hall, students will be shown videos and presentations related to the school’s effort to prevent bullying. One of the presentations recently shown was created by former PKMS students Damek Fountain, Kataya Frye and Jessica Johnson in an effort to educate their peers about the dangers of bullying. Even though the three girls have now moved on to high school, their presentation continues to spread the important message to middle school students.

“A lot of times kids will see these videos and afterwards students will come forward and tell us that they saw others being bullied,” Kilanowski said. “When they come to me, it’s usually not kids reporting themselves being bullied, but they feel like, ‘Wow, I’m just standing here watching someone else get bullied. I should do something.’ I’ve even had kids that have come forward about their friends that aren’t even in this District that they were concerned about and I’ve been able to call other guidance counselors and make them aware of these situations.”

Students at PKMS say that bringing attention to bullying is extremely important to them and they are glad that the school is helping to address the issue. After watching the presentation, PKMS student Amber Beach wrote a song about the topic to share with the school. Other students are also embracing the meaning behind the month’s theme.

“I think it it’s good to participate in things like this today because bullying is everywhere, even adults get bullied,” said seventh grader Leanna Strang. “It’s really not a good thing. I had a bullying experience in fourth grade and it didn’t feel good at all.”

“I also think it’s important bring awareness to bullying,” added seventh grader Mya Guardino. “I think bullying is under control here at our school. There are still a few kids that do it, but then there are always kids that stick up for you too when that happens and say, ‘hey, don’t do that.’”

PKMS Principal Jamal Lewis noted that by recognizing Bullying Prevention Month it helps students and staff “stand in solidarity” against the problem.

“Days like today really do raise awareness about bullying,” Lewis said “It makes those who might have felt that they didn’t have a voice before- that they do now, and they know that folks are here to support them. This is a huge opportunity for us as a school to come together to stop others from getting hurt and work toward helping one another heal.”

Photo: Seventh Grade Guidance Counselor Jacqueline Kilanowski, students Leanna Stran and Mya Guardino, Assistant Principal Dr. June Ann Campolongo, and PKMS Principal Jamal Lewis wear blue in an effort to help “Stomp out Bullying.”