53 21ST ANNUAL CRIME PREVENTION GUIDE Elementary School recognized with anti-bullying award Published on November 17th, 2009 Eric McCarthy / Journal Pioneer O'Leary - When a classmate was teased because she wore a skirt to school, several of her classmates responded by arriving at school the following day dressed in skirts. That, says Grade 6 O'Leary Elementary School student, Rebecca MacCarville, suggests schoolmates are getting the message that it is not nice to bully. "They're trying not to bully, and they're doing it, so they're completing their job," MacCarville observed after accepting, on behalf of her schoolmates, the 2009 Tami Martell Award for their efforts in promoting character education and awareness of verbal abuse. The award was presented by Western School Board trustee Eva Rodgerson. The provincial award is named in honor of Tami Martell who, in 1997, authored an information report on verbal abuse and who made presentations on the effects of verbal abuse at 28 schools across P.E.I. while conducting an awareness walk. "We want to tell you how proud we are of you," school board representative Doug MacDougall advised the students during an assembly held for the award presentation. He said school staff has noticed a big decrease in the last couple of years in the number of students being reported to the office for bullying and teasing. O'Leary was cited for the award because of the character education assemblies it has been holding, a "fair play" short play presented by Grade 6 student leaders, the entire school population forming a human spelling of "ACCEPT", integrating such songs as "Don't Laugh at Me" and "Your Words" into the music assembly and the presentation of "Caught Doing Something Nice" certificates. The certificates were presented to several students following the presentation of the Verbal Abuse Awareness Award to the school. Students were recognized for such things as picking up toys even though they weren't the ones playing with them, comforting a younger boy who got hurt on the playground, giving up an activity choice so others could participate, greeting custodians with a smile, stacking chairs without being asked, helping Leadership students clean up after activities, inviting a student who was alone to play, and offering mittens to a student who had none. "We had the DARE Program and Pink Shirt Day and that really helps with bullying around here," MacCarville added. "There's been a huge decline in the number of students coming into the office for any abuse whatsoever," declared principal Susan Trail. While an award is nice, students had an additional reason to cheer. "You've actually earned an extra recess this week," Trail announced.
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