January 24-28 is National No Name-Calling Week

[FULL STORY]

Newman Middle School is shining a light on good behavior by observing No Name-Calling Week (NN-CW) on January 24-28, 2011. Though we at Newman pride ourselves on the School’s inclusive and nurturing environment, we feel it is always important to renew our commitment to the schools core values of kindness and respect (not to mention honesty and responsibility!). Students and faculty will engage in several events throughout the week to raise awareness of bullying and students’ experiences of the less-than-nostalgic parts of growing up.

During advisory, middle schoolers answered questionnaires asking them about their experiences with bullying, which they filled out during advisory. During the January 25 student assembly, Mr. Riemer shared those results with the students, showing the different grades’ shifting attitudes about what constitutes bullying and the students’ spectrum of feeling about it. A common thread was that while Newman is not a hotbed of bullying, it is never acceptable and everyone should be vigilant about keeping it out of the School’s hallways, sporting events, locker rooms, classrooms, and dining hall.

On January 27 and 28, upper school students will speak to the Middle School Advisories. The older students will relate their stories of growing up and overcoming some of the negative feelings and name-calling that are unfortunately sometimes part of adolescents’ lives. By the time the week is done, the students will have time to reflect on the hurtful nature of name-calling and resolve to keep it out of their lives. We hope that they will resolve to make every week No Name-Calling Week!

But wait – “It Gets Better.” Several upper school students in the Gay Straight Alliance put together an It Gets Better video about overcoming bullying, part of the It Gets Better Project. Formed to combat hate and intolerance against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth, the project has a simple message: Be strong – it gets better.