by Sabrina Redlingshafer

STA will have its second annual Anti-bullying Week March 11 through 15, organized by guidance counselor Amanda Johnson and the Peer Helpers, a group of student counselors.

According to Johnson, this year’s focus will be different from last because of a new emphasis on showing more kindness and care for the dear neighbor, rather than simply “anti-bullying.”

“Last year was really focused on the big global piece on how bullying can really reach this far, dark place,” said Johnson. “What we want to do this year is kind of bring it home, more of the little things that we do to each other and how we treat ourselves.”

More than 13 million students are bullied each year, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Almost 160,000 kids stay home from school each day to evade being bullied.

Despite the statistics of bullying across the country, junior Katherine Viviano does not feel bullying is very widespread at STA.

“Bullying is not prevalent because [STA] is a very welcoming environment where everyone is encouraged to be their own person, rather than mold themselves into what others expect them to be,” Viviano said. “It is that alone that keeps bullying to such a minimum.”

Anti-bullying Week’s goal is to build up the STA community and show even the smallest acts of kindness can make a difference in someone else’s world, according to Johnson.

“There’s lots of pieces of the sisterhood here at STA, like the ‘Outrage’ talk and weeks like this [Anti-bullying week], that hope to build the STA community,” principal for student activities Mary Anne Hoecker said. “And that’s what you really want. You want a strong, loving, community here.”

Johnson said there is no key note speaker like last year, but there are still various daily activities hosted by the Peer Helpers, like Mr. Roger’s Random Acts of Kindness Day. The group will also be showing a documentary about bullying between girls titled “Finding Kind” and a film presentation by senior Carrie Hudson of “Just Like You,” documenting the journey of mentally handicapped children.

Another activity, “Mending Our Broken Hearts,” will take place Monday through Thursday in the Windmoor Center during lunch/activity. For $1, students can purchase a heart and some candy. Students will be asked to write unkind acts on one side of the heart and kind acts on the other. Then students will place the side with their unkind acts up on a board for others to come around and place their kind acts, thus “mending” a broken heart. All proceeds will go to the Megan Meier foundation, a foundation promoting bullying awareness.

Johnson explained the new activity as a way to replace generous acts with the unkind.

“We’ve each done things that are unkind and things that are inherently good”, Johnson said. “The idea is that for every unkind act, there is also a good act.”

Ultimately, Johnson wants to prevent bullying among young women and encourage more acts of kindness between STA students.

“Bullying is a really big issue with young women and I’d like to prevent that at STA,” Johnson said. “I’d like to create some awareness because education is key to breaking down barriers and creating connections and relationships. I feel like if we create awareness, we then create more positive interactions with one another.”

Anti-Bullying Week’s Schedule

Monday– “Mending Broken Hearts” during Activity in Windmoor (through Thursday) for $1. On Friday one mended heart (2 lucky students) will win either a $20 Chipotle gift card or Quik Trip gift card.

Tuesday– “Just Like You” Film presentation by Carrie Hudson during Activity in Windmoor.

Wednesday– Dress down for $1. Students may wear black and white polka dots or teal in support of the Megan Meier foundation and Anti-Bullying awareness.

Thursday– Mr. Roger’s Day: Random Acts of Kindness to those around you. Be listening for the Mr. Roger’s song over the intercom throughout the day.

Friday– “Finding Kind” Film Presentation and Pizza lunch for $1 a slice and drinks.