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Date: 2/27/2015
WEST SPRINGFIELD – West Springfield schools are asking their students to get creative in their fight against bullying. The entire district is hosting an Anti-Bullying Contest for students of all ages to help facilitate a conversation about the problems facing schools.
The contest offers students “something that will allow them to expand on ideas and think on their own,” interim Superintendent Michael Richard said.
Students are encouraged to create submissions based on the theme, “How can you encourage people to be more accepting of others?” This year, however, instead of limiting submissions to just posters, essays or poems, students can create multi-media or video entries, according to Richard.
He said that this addition would hopefully help more students participate in the contest and in the conversation.
“With the digital age and kids having so much access, with iPhones and being able to create a video on the fly, it might engage more students to partake in the topic,” Richard said.
Aside from the ability to submit multi-media creations, Richard said that the faculty and staff at the West Springfield schools have taken initiative to get students involved. He said he has heard of teachers making it a classroom assignment for students to participate.
Without the encouragement of teachers, there is still incentive for students to enter the Anti-Bullying Contest. Every student who submits a project will be entered into a raffle to win a cash prize, and the Anti-Bullying Task Force will judge all contest entries, selecting winners to be featured on the district’s website and social media accounts, as well as be recognized at a school committee meeting.
Though participation has fluctuated in the past, Richard said even if students choose not to enter the contest, they would still benefit.
“We believe in the power of reflection. When students have the opportunity to just consider a topic, I’m sure there are a lot of students that may not participate, but it will be on their minds, they’ll see it,” Richard said. “They’ll think about their actions, how it matters, how it affects their school and their building we’ll get people to think about things and that changes behaviors.”
Richard stressed that simple awareness is key in fighting bullying. If students stop and think about their actions or that of others, a difference will be made and positivity will spread throughout the community.
“It’s one of those things that I don’t think kids don’t always understand how their actions, and for that matter inactions, can impact the people around them,” Richard said. “This helps make sure that the community understands that we don’t tolerate negative behavior, and we promote what will make the community a better place.”
The deadline for submissions is March 6. Students can submit entries in the following categories: Graphic/Poster (K-12), Essay or Poem, not to exceed 250 words (K-12) and Multi-Media/Video up to 60 seconds (6-12). Winners will be selected from grades K-2, grades 3-5, grades 6-8 and grades 9-12. For more information, contact Erin Mountain at 263-3290 or mountain@wsps.org.