McCormick Elementary Kicks Off Bullying-Prevention Program

McCormick Elementary students rocked out to a concert Friday morning by country music artist Sarah Marince, kicking off the district's second annual Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.

Each school in the Moon Area School District will host a variety of kick-off activities for students, district spokeswoman Megan Edwards said. 

Friday’s concert by Marince, a Moon Township native, went along with the school’s program theme for this year, “McCormick Rocks.”

“We had a rock concert, decorated rocks for a rock garden, and all wore our ‘McCormick Rocks’ T-shirts to make the program fun for the students,” McCormick Principal Julie Moore said.

Marince spoke in between songs about her own childhood struggles and how she dealt with bullying. 

"I was bullied for what I wore and for doing what I loved to do," she told students. "If you see someone being bullied, go help them out. It can be a great way to make new friends."

Kick-off activities at each school in the district will focus on the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program’s main goal, which is to reduce and prevent bullying problems, as well as to improve relationships among students.  

Throughout the year, students will participate in various activities that teach them about direct, indirect and cyber bullying, Edwards said.

While elementary students will what constitutes bullying, district administrators hope to engage high school students by bringing in a motivational speaker who is also a Guinness World Record holder.

Olweus Bullying Prevention Program Activities will continue throughout the school year for all district students.