STRONG – Strong Elementary School students gathered to initiate their new bullying prevention program recently.

The middle school students prepared two skits depicting bullying incidents and the audience was presented with two possible ways to handle the situations. The kids yelled out the best possible scenario.

A banner was unveiled displaying the “Pledge of Respect” as the students recited the words. As the students filed out of the gym to the playground, they signed the banner. On the playground they rotated through stations run by the middle schoolers showing rules for various games, safety issues, respect and good sportsmanship.

The Strong Elementary staff has been meeting with the Franklin County Children’s Task Force since last year. They have received training in Maine’s Best Practices in Bullying and Harassment Prevention and have developed procedures to provide appropriate interventions for children engaged in bullying behavior.

They continue their work with the help of the task force to implement curriculum and empower bystanders to help targets and report bullying incidents.

The program is funded by the United Way of the Tri-Valley Area.

A school interested in implementing a bullying prevention program may contact the Franklin Country Children’s Task Force at 778-6960.