Fighting bullying with poetry

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Sixth-graders Sara Moran and Lucy McGee and seventh-grader Dalya Pinero, students at The David A. Stein Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy MS/HS 141, said they were excited and a little nervous. Later in the day, they would be reciting their poems against bullying over the school’s loudspeaker.

Lucy, in a soft-spoken voice filled with determination, said that she would put her nervousness aside to recite her poem, because the issue is important to her. Lucy added that she had been bullied years before and that she took great pride in knowing how far she has come and knowing that the bully did not win. Along with Sara and Dalya, Lucy was among the winners of the school’s rap and poetry contest, held during a weeklong anti-bullying awareness initiative in late November to early December. This year’s theme was “Make Noise Against Bullying.”

“If you can write a rap about it, you can make noise against it, which is good,” said Sara.

“You can ask kids, and probably a lot of them have been bullied at least a few times in their life, if not once, because there are always mean people in your world,” Lucy said. “A lot of people who have grown up could have been bullied and they might have forgotten it, but [for] a lot of people… it’s a scar for their emotions.”

Sixth-grader Hannah Chen welcomed the anti-bullying initiative.

“It felt really good because some schools don’t do that… They take the time and effort to do a special thing for bullying that means a lot,” she said. “I felt, like, powerful that we were part of a big group united to fight bullying.”

High school junior Max Castrillo, who said that he had been bullied years before, added that the week served as a “motivation for other people to be okay with themselves” and marked a big step “towards getting rid of one of the most major issues in society for teenagers and for schools.”

In addition to the rap and poetry contest, high school students watched videos and had discussions about bullying.

Stephanie Cruz, a senior, said that in one video, a male had to register as a sex offender after emailing inappropriate pictures of his girlfriend.

She said the event served as a reminder that “stupid actions” could have long-term and serious consequences.

“I was grateful that we got to watch it. It really opened my eyes,” said the senior.

Middle-school students wrote inspirational messages in blue chalk on the sidewalk outside of RKA.

“Be mindful of what you say because if may affect others,” wrote Allen Herrera, an eighth-grader. He later told The Press: “I wanted to write that message, so the kids at P.S. 24 that may be coming to middle school could know about bullying and how to stop it.”

“One person bullied is one more than it should have been,” wrote seventh-grader Diana Campbell. She said that together, everyone’s words on the sidewalk sent a powerful message.

“Bullies gain strength in numbers. So, if we take what makes it stronger away from them, we can hopefully, at least, minimize bullying, if not stop it,” she said.

RKA arranged the events of the week so that students could recognize the forms bullying may take, learn ways to support someone who is experiencing it and know how to alert an adult. The week’s activities also included a “mix-it-up lunch,” where RKA staff distributed raffle tickets to students. They ate lunch together based on the numbers called. Each table had ice-breaker games so students could get to know each other.

“Although we talk about it all the time, seeing the entire school engaged and focused on it has really deepened the conversation,” RKA principal Lori O’Mara said in an email. “Students are developing empathy, which is a very important component in encouraging positive interactions with one another.”

Elizabeth Benders, president of the RKA parents’ association said the anti-bullying week “reinforced to the students that they need to realize that their words and actions have an impact on those around them.”

“We are proud of the students and staff this past week for having an open and ongoing dialogue about a serious topic,” Ms. Benders said in an email.

Eleven incidents of harassment were reported at RKA in the 2014-2015 school year, according to data from the state’s Education Department. This compares to five incidents in each of the 2013-2014 and 2012-2013 school years. Meanwhile, cyberbullying decreased to two incidents in 2014-2015 from three incidents a year earlier.

A total of 1,419 students were enrolled at RKA during the 2015-2016 school year, according to the city’s Education Department data.

“No matter WHO you are/We are all diverse and different, and that’s what makes us stars,” wrote Dalya. She said those were her favorite lines of her poem.

The school has made audio recordings of Dalya’s, Lucy’s and Sara’s works and posted the recordings online. To listen, visit rka141.org.

RKA, Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy, MS 141, PS 141, Sara Moran, Dalya Pinero, Lucy McGee, Hannah Chen, Max Castrillo, Stephanie Cruz, Allen Herrera, Diana Campbell, Lori O'Mara, Elizabeth Benders, Lisa Herndon

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