Solon Middle School Recognized For Anti-Bullying Programming

SOLON, OH — Solon Middle School has received the 2019 Start With Hello award from Sandy Hook Promise. Only three schools in the Northeast region received the award.

The Start With Hello award is given to schools where student-led programming fosters a sense of inclusivity and stymies bullying. At Solon Middle School, the Students Against Violence Everywhere Club (SAVE) creates events to bring students together.

“Considering the number of entries Sandy Hook Promise received from across the nation and the high quality of these entries, Solon Middle School should be very proud of this achievement,” said Bob Flynn, national programs director for Sandy Hook Promise. “Thank you for empowering your students to learn how to be more inclusive and connected to each other. Your important work is helping to reduce social isolation as well as to prevent violence in all its forms.”

The Sandy Hook Promise group works to prevent acts of gun-violence at schools. To that end, Solon Middle Schools run a series of activities to reduce bullying and isolation. Students are taught how to reach out and help (start with hello) and how to help other people feel included.

Members of the SAVE Club worked with teachers and school counselors to plan lunchtime activities, like "Be a Lifesaver" and "Compliment Drive." For the former, students signed green pledge cards committing to reach out to others. For the latter, students picked from eight different printed positive messages and sent them anonymously to other students. Every student in the school received at least one compliment message.

The green lifesaver cards now form two wall-length banners spelling out "Hello" and "Start With Hello" in the main hallways of the school.

SAVE Club members also drew chalk greetings on the sidewalks leading into the school. Additional programming will be launched throughout the year, the district said.

Several Solon schools participate in the Sandy Hook Promise programming.