PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center and Planet Fitness celebrate the first round of ‘Students with Solutions’ contest winnersThis past fall, the Students with Solutions contest received submissions from schools, classrooms, and individuals across the country. Each entry showcased a creative representation in the form of videos, art, photos, poems, and more of what the students envisioned for acts of kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. The program was made possible through Planet Fitness’ philanthropic initiative, the Judgement Free Generation, which aims to combat the judgement and bullying today’s youth face by creating a culture of kindness and encouragement. Buddy benches engraved with a customized message were awarded to the two Kindness Champions of the first round of the contest: Grand Innovation Academy in Casa Grande, Arizona, and Parker Junior High in Flossmoor, Illinois. Other prizes included playground equipment, games, water bottles, decals, and bracelets. The second round of the Students with Solutions is now open for submissions through April 15, 2020. Learn how you can win prizes for your classroom at the Students with Solutions page. 
Nominate an individual or a group for a Unity AwardCelebrate those who are creating a world without bullying! The Unity Awards recognizes groups and individuals who are helping to create a world without bullying, whether it’s by building awareness of bullying prevention, inspiring and empowering others to take positive action, or advocating for those who need support. Each year, nominations come in from around the country and have included teachers who have touched the lives of students, individuals or groups who have been active in their communities, and those who simply made someone feel that they were not alone. 
News from the L.A. Office: Connecting generations to address and prevent bullyingIn February, the residents of Atria Senior Living (Hillcrest) in Thousand Oaks, California, spent an evening learning about bullying prevention with Judy French (pictured above) of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center Los Angeles office and two members of the L.A. Youth Advisory Board, Chloe and Mai. Residents sat at tables reviewing bullying scenarios and then discussed possible solutions with one another and as a group. The teens from the L.A. Advisory Board offered important observations about real-world outcomes for students today. Special thanks to Atria Hillcrest for the opportunity to engage your wonderful residents in this topic, so they can share the importance of bullying prevention with their families! “What You Can Do”This 4-part handout series provides comprehensive information for students and adults about how to help someone who is experiencing bullying, as well as how to address bullying in the community. |