Students form new anti-bullying group

Eight students went to Rachel’s Challenge, an anti-bullying program, at BGM on Saturday, April 28. Students involved in the event included, back row, from l to r: Frank Gillum, Mya Talbert, Siara Broadston, River Webb, and front row, l to r: Alyssa Carl, Tailor Snook and Tania McPherson. Not pictured is Hunter Foubert

by Bridgette Moore

On Saturday, April 28, eight students and three teachers traveled to BGM to attend the Rachel’s Challenge event, which is an anti-bullying program.

The students included Mya Talbert, Frank Gillum, Hunter Foubert, Tailor Snook, Alyssa Carl, River Webb, Siara Broadston and Tania McPherson.The teachers were Ms. Kelsie Sheets, middle school special education teacher, Mrs. Roxanne Goudy, middle school English teacher, and Mr. David Brondyke, middle and high school science teacher. While there, they were instructed on what bullying is and how we can prevent it. 

There are a few main goals for the program. Those goals include creating a safe learning environment for all students and improving academic achievement by getting students engaged in the process with their minds, hearts and hands. They also hope to train adults to empower students to make a positive change. It brought awareness to issues that they all are dealing with, and it didn’t take them long to realize that everyone is going through similar things. 

Sheets said, “The program is designed to initiate a ‘chain reaction’ from the kids. A ‘chain reaction’ is when the students do small acts of kindness around their school and community to make for a safer and more enjoyable environment.”

The event was emotional for students and staff alike. After the seminar the students received gel bracelets that read, “Start a chain reaction.” 

Frank Gillum, an 8th grader, stated, “I thought it was very good and it brought out a lot of inner issues from people. It helped people deal with the hard times that they have or are going through.”

River Webb, a 7th grader, “I thought it was very helpful for people and it could change people’s lives. I learned not to judge people when you first see them because you don’t know what’s wrong in their life.”

Sheets said, “It brought awareness to issues that they all are dealing with and it didn’t take them long to realize that everyone is going through similar things. It was great to see that ‘aha’ moment for the kids. It was like a switch that they realized their fellow classmates, kids from BGM and their own teachers are dealing with similar struggles. We all wear a mask to make it seem like our lives are perfect, but in reality we all carry baggage.”

The students have started a small group called C.A.B. (Children Against Bullying). This group consists of students who attended the Rachel’s Challenge event, as well as the junior high student council members and Mr. Moretz. Eventually, they plan to open this group up to anyone in the junior high, all developing from this motivated group of students. As a group they are looking at the costs and possible effects of bringing Rachel’s Challenge to Montezuma. They also hope to develop posters, presentations and challenges for the entire school to educate them on the effects bullying has on students as well as what to do when they see bullying happen.