By: Ryan Duey
Some students of USD 379 Clay Center Community Middle School (CCMS) have created a new program to help combat bullying. The student-led bullying prevention group provides blue ribbons to students and staff to wear on their backpacks or staff workspaces as a reminder to all students that they have a safe person they can go to if needed.
Eighth-grade student Kate Larson came up with the idea of this Prevention Program. Larson explained what made her decide to start this student-led group.
“So last year I noticed that our school had a really big problem with bullying and that bullying was more verbal than physical, and that’s a lot more difficult for some people to understand, I think. And so, I went and talked to Mr. Brummet about it, and he said that there were a lot of ways I could help, but one of the biggest ones was to get students involved because students can make the biggest difference in this situation.”
Larson said she and a group of students met and discussed how to get the whole school involved. They decided to use blue ribbons to symbolize that the person with the ribbon cares about preventing bullying and making the school a better place.
Larson said that at least 70 people showed up to their first meeting, which was a big surprise. They will continue to work on ways to implement this program throughout each grade level. Larson hopes this program will help shed a light on bullying throughout the school.
“Well, I just hope that people will understand that it’s important to give other human beings dignity because a lot of time in middle school that gets forgotten, and the whole school would eventually hear about it. And even if they don’t want to join the club or wear a blue ribbon, I hope they would at least get the idea into their heads that bullying is not good and it’s important to keep our school a safe place.”
CCMS Counselor Nick Brummet said it’s important that students are taking a stand on this and are stepping in and wanting to make a positive impact. He said Larson has been an amazing leader by starting this Program.
