It was good to see so many students share their feelings and sometimes fears about bullying at the Anti-bullying Summit on Saturday. As a mother, Kim McDonald was excited to see her daughter Abby attend the summit.
“She knows bullying happens and she is the type to try to help someone. She just didn’t know what to do, but now I believe she has found her voice and an avenue to help those that are being bullied and don’t know where to go,” McDonald said.
As a counselor at Lumberton Junior High, McDonald was excited to see almost 100 students turn out for the summit. The event included students, educators, administrators, community members, agency members from Eastpointe and Rep. Charles Graham. The event touched on bullying-related questions and answers in a focus group setting.
“It was a very dynamic and energized morning of ice breakers, teen building and anti-bullying strategies. The teens walked away with the knowledge that there are adults at their respective schools that are there to help every day, but especially to be an advocate for those being bullied. We are also here to talk to the bullies and to help them see how their behavior can affect themselves as well as others,” McDonald said.
Facilitators conducted the summit with a powerful message concerning youth empowering themselves and others to take a stance against bullying. The event was made possible by a grant provided by Eastpointe. Jadell Hawks, PSRC director of Student Services, helped coordinate the event, along with Cheryl Harris, Eastpointe’s community relations specialist for Robeson County, and Eric Rowles, founder of “Leading the Change,” an anti-bullying effort.
“Our goal with the Anti-Bullying Teen Summit is to eliminate bullying in the Public Schools of Robeson County and learn how to empower our students as leaders of tomorrow. School administrators and parents attended the summit to reinforce our mission to end bullying behaviors in the schools,” Hawks said.
Before the summit, an anti-bullying focus group of students representing sixth through eighth grade was implemented in all middle schools. The group of student representatives met two times to answer questions focused around bullying in the schools. The information gathered was compiled and shared with the counselors at each school.
“Sometimes, kids see counselors as a form of discipline and we’re not. We are there to help them work through whatever issues they have,” McDonald said.
The Lumberton Junior High counselor said she hopes the district will host another summit and be able to include more kids.
“I hope these kids who attended Saturday will be able to bring back some of the positive energy that they received Saturday morning. That in turn will get other kids excited,” McDonald said.
