KELSEYVILLE — Nearly 40 Mountain Vista Middle School students used their drawing skills, penmanship and quick wit to advocate against bullying in an inaugural poster contest this fall.
“We really want to make anti-bullying a big deal,” Tammi Mendonca, physical education teacher who helped organize the contest, said. “It”s top-dog for me.”
The two-week extracurricular contest, held in honor of National Anti-Bullying Awareness Month, ended Oct. 12.
“The participation was unbelievable,” physical education teacher Paul McGuire said. “The kids really got into it.”
Several staff members judged the works and selected 10 winners, who were honored with a pizza party Friday.
Eighth-grader Derrick Aragon, also student body president, was motivated to promote anti-bullying on campus because of his own three-year experience as a subject of bullying.
“This is a place to feel free and safe,” Aragon, one of the contest winners, said.
Seventh-grader Jack Farris incorporated a well-known safety advocate in his winning poster, which depicted Smokey Bear stating, “Only you can prevent bullying.”
“I did mine about cyberbullying because I watched a movie about cyberbullying and I wanted to say that even online, bullying is not OK,” eight-grade student Jada Terry said.
Emma Burke, school counselor through the Safe Schools Healthy Students program, thought the contest provided students with important reflection time.
“I think it”s a therapeutic process to make posters and think about what they want to put on the posters,” she said.
In class, students learned about types of bullying, how to recognize them and how to address them. They were also taught kindness, sportsmanship, teamwork and to not put their peers down.
“I think that if kids know that we”re advocates, they can come talk to us also,” Mendonca said.
Posters will be placed around campus and some will be taken to the upcoming Kelseyville Unified School District board meeting, she added.
The school plans to hold the contest next year.
“I think it”s a great opportunity for kids to express their concern about an area they”re very aware of in today”s society,” principal John Berry said.
The other contest winners were Paige Roberts, Omar Juarez, Crystal Olson, Kristen Amendola, Francisco Calvillo, Karina Ninche and Leila Perez.
Jeremy Walsh is a staff reporter for Lake County Publishing. Reach him at 263-5636, ext. 37 or jwalsh@record-bee.com. Follow him on Twitter, @JeremyDWalsh.
