From September 22 to 27, ASB hosted a week-long Anti-Bullying event, complete with daily awareness activities.
Anti-Bullying Week Coordinators Jacqueline Vallon and Daniella Veloria worked with the rest of ASB to organize five anti-bullying days. “Each day we focused on a different anti-bullying theme and throughout the day we incorporated that theme into a number of activities,” said Veloria. According to Vallon, Monday’s theme was verbal and cyber bullying awareness, Tuesday’s was exclusion awareness, Wednesday’s was LGBTQ* bullying awareness, and Thursday’s was physical abuse awareness. On Friday, ASB concluded Anti-Bullying Week by sharing ways to combat bullying in its video broadcast.
“Anti-Bullying Week was basically created in an effort to bring anti-bullying awareness to staff and students,” said Veloria. “We brought this nationwide program to our school with the hope to educate students about the effects of bullying and also to provide solutions for those being bullied.”
Throughout the week, students participated in a variety of awareness activities. According to Senior Aida Garrido, students wore specific colors in support of each anti-bullying theme. On Monday, ASB members offered free hugs to students. “These events truly show our school’s solidarity,” added Garrido.
Biomed Teacher Ellie Vandiver is pleased with ASB for hosting Anti-Bullying Week. “I think that bullying is one of the most pressing issues in schools at this time and age, and that is why it’s really great that ASB holds this week to allow students to become more aware of this issue. I’m especially pleased that this week included a day dedicated to cyber bullying because bullying can occur through social sites and students need to be aware of that,” she said.