Rachel's Challenge

This year, we are doing Rachel's Challenge in our 5th and 6th grade classes. Rachel Scott was the first victim of the Columbine High School Massacre in 1999. Her parents found her writings after she died. Her writings talked about how one random act of kindness could start a chain reaction and lead to other acts of kindness. Based on this notion, students at OLQH will perform random acts of kindness and compassion to each other. A paper chain will be made to support these acts. We are hoping to start a chain reaction of kindness and compassion in our school. You can visit www.RachelsChallenge.org to learn more.

SWAG Video Lyrics

Intro Remember us??? SWAG! Well, we’re back! And we can’t back down. We wrote a song about it. Like to hear it, well here it goes. Verse 1 You know, bullying is not ok. Though it happens every single day. Needs to stop, but many don’t know how. We can end it, no better time than now Are you the person all alone at school Whose reason you’re ignored is cause you ain’t so cool? Keep your head high when you wanna pop Stand up for yourself, tell that bully to stop! Chorus If you’re the dude that watches in silence While all around you’re surrounded by violence It’s your duty, just don't stand there You gotta speak up and be an Upstander! Verse 2 If you’re a bully, well, that ain’t so nice With help and determination you can break that vice If it makes you happy to make others frown You got a problem, turn yourself around Chorus 2 If you’re the girl that watches in silence While all around you’re surrounded by violence It’s your duty, just don't stand there You gotta speak up and be an Upstander! Verse 3 Ask yourself, how to fix this problem All the incidents, we got to stop them We must unite and come together They’ll all fall down cuz we’re the SWAG Upstanders! Chorus If you’re the one that watches in silence While all around you’re surrounded by violence It’s your duty, don't just stand there You gotta speak up and be an Upstander! Verse 3 (repeat) Ask yourself, how to fix this problem All the incidents, we got to stop them We must unite and come together They’ll and fall down cuz we’re the SWAG Upstanders! You got it! Yeah! You need to find your SWAG! And be an Upstander. Repeat 3xs Find your SWAG And be an Upstander

SWAG Song Practice

SWAG Video Lyrics Contest

            It’s that time of year again….IT’S TIME TO MAKE THE SWAG VIDEO!! This year, the Catholic Mutual’s Safety in the Schools Contest deadline is February 15, 2013. Since SWAG won the GRAND PRIZE in last year’s contest, we have some big shoes to fill. We have to outdo last year’s video! It will be tough, because last year was so awesome, but I think we can do it!!

This year, I would like to do an original song/rap. This way, we can bypass having to get the recording rights to a particular song. An original song/rap means that YOU (the students) will have to come up with some OUTSTANDING lyrics. I am not 100% sure that we will use an original rap. It all depends on the lyrics that you come up with. So, let the battle begin!!!!

I present to you the “SWAG Video Lyrics Contest”. You may work by yourself, or you may work with a small group of friends. I am challenging you to come up with the best rap lyrics that the SWAG club can use in this year’s video. If your lyrics are chosen to be used in the video, not only will you get bragging rights, but you, or you and your group, will also win a free lunch (pizza, cheeseburgers, or chicken fingers, etc.) provided by the SWAG club. The music lyrics should be about the length of a regular song, including 2 or 3 verses and a catchy chorus. You may want to go online to the SWAG website to get some ideas of what to write about. Visit www.StudentsWithAntiBullyingGoals.BlogSpot.com. Some good ideas you may choose to rap about are as followed:

-Last year’s grand prize winning video
-SWAG club and what we are all about
-Being an Upstander and not a bystander
-The Upstander Pledge (can be found on SWAG website)
-What to do if you or someone you know is being bullied
-How bullying affects everyone involved
-About OLQHS and what we stand for

These are just some ideas. You do not have to choose them. You may choose your own. I just wanted to give you a starting point.

                 They lyrics should be neatly hand written or typed. Your name, or the group member’s names, should be written on the top of your lyrics. If you choose to be in a group, you may only be in one group, and you may not work individually. If you choose to work individually, you may not be in a group. Your lyrics will be due the Monday, January 7, 2013, after we get back from Christmas break. Turn in your lyrics to Mrs. Stokeld.

                 If you have any questions, please feel free to email Mrs. Stokeld. The video will only be as good as YOU make it!! So, dig deep, be creative, and have fun!! I know we can win the GRAND PRIZE again!

Peace,
Mrs. Stokeld
sstokeld@olqhs.org

Cyber Bullying

http://blog.samhsa.gov/2012/10/15/addressing-cyberbullying/

Addressing Cyberbullying

Guest Post By: Melyn Huntley, Project Director, Safe Schools/Healthy Students

“People bully me. I want to die.”  The words echoed in the mind of the parent who found the crumbled note in her daughter’s room.  Words of desperation cried out for help.  How do you help her?  How serious is the threat?

Protecting your child is critical.  Today with online communications, a bully can follow their victim home to the aloneness of their bedroom.  If your child should become a victim of bullying, there are several things you should do.

• Believe your child.  Being a victim of bullying is embarrassing.  When your child cries out to you, believe them and get involved.
•  “Friend” your child on social network sites.  Know their codes and check them frequently.  Look at their pages; check their walls.  Monitor the text messages that they receive.
•  Block the person who is bullying.  If your child receives harassing comments on facebook or through text messages, block the sender.
•  Report bullying.  Many schools have electronic or other ways to report bullying.  Get the school involved, but do not rely totally on them for the resolution.  You can also report bullying posts to facebook.
•  Call the police when necessary.  Online harassment and other forms of bullying are illegal in most states.  While not every report will result in charges being filed, harassment that threatens another person is taken seriously and police will investigate.
•  Share personal stories of how you overcame bullying.  Give your children permission to stand against bullying, to ask for help from others, and to help those who are being bullied, even if they risk getting bullied themselves.

 

Families are essential in stopping bullying that either comes from their homes, or comes into their homes.  Together we will make a difference in the lives of our children.  For more information on what you can do to help, please visit www.stopbullying.gov and www.promoteprevent.org.

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SWAG WINS GRAND PRIZE IN TWO NATIONAL CONTESTS

We are more than thrilled to announce that we are the GRAND PRIZE winners in both of the national contests that we entered. SWAG won $10, 000 from the Catholic Mutual's Safety in the School Contest!! We plan to buy our very own video equipment so we can continue making impacting videos that will inspire others for years to come! Secondly, we won the top prize in the contest that was sponsored by the National School Climate Center's BullyBust Campaign (NSCC)and the Blockbuster Broadway Musical Wicked. We will receive a $500 grant, and select cast members from Wicked will be visiting our school in the fall. We are so proud and honored to win these awards. SWAG put a lot of sweat and time into making our video the best we could. Thank everyone for all of their support and patience. This was only our first year starting SWAG, so I know we have so many great things ahead of us. Also, thank you Disney for allowing us to use your song in our video. You rock! Until next time....stay safe and happy...stay SAPPY!!
Love,
SWAG

Some Inspiring Words...feel free to inspire others with your fav quotes:)

"The life you live in, don't let it live IN you!"  (in other words, if you are in a bad situation, OVERCOME it! - don't use the excuse...my life is bad, so I have no choice but to do bad. You are in control of your own life, your thoughts, your actions, your behaviors. If you don't like something about your life--CHANGE IT!!)

"All cruelty springs from weakness" (people are most likely to hurt others when they feel vulnerable, down, or weak. Being cruel will only keep one down longer. I like this quote, too, because it explains why bullies bully)

"Success isn't permanent, and failure isn't fatal" (everyone knows that you must work hard to achieve what you want. Some times you won't get it right the 1st time, but that's when you pick up the pieces and try, try again. Hard work pays off, and the feeling of success is intensified when you know you tried your very best to reach your goal.)

"When I grow up, I want to be just like me!" (I never could truly understand this one until I turned 30 years old. All my life, I wanted to jump higher, run faster, be skinnier, have curlier hair, have more money, etc. etc. The list could go on and on forever. Everyone always wants what they can't have. With age comes maturity and wisdom. Wisdom allows me to know, love and accept ME inside and out. I am happy  and comfortable in my own skin. It took 30 years to get here, but I wouldn't change a thing. I know that God made me exactly the way he wanted me to be. I am right where I belong. We could spend a life-time always wanting more, bigger, and better; but, this just seems exhausting and insane. Self-actualization is what we accomplish when we embrace our goods and our bads. Practice loving yourself and finding the GOoD in you. You may just be surprised at how GOoD you really are.

"Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want" (I like this one. My sister said this to me one day. It's so true. We don't/won't/can't always get what we want, every time. We are only human, and we are all bound to make mistakes. It's what we do with our mistakes that set us apart from the monkeys:) The best advice I know is to always learn from your mistakes. Teach yourself a lesson so you don't make the same mistake again. Experience the life lesson that you are teaching yourself. Always remember that God has a plan for you. His plan may not be your own plan, but you are right where He wants you to be.)

So, learn, love, live, make mistakes, gain understanding and experience, be yourself, embrace your faults, be in charge of your life, be in control of your happiness, be strong, sing loud, dance crazy, speak kindly, keep the beat to your own drum, stay positive, and know that you are exactly where you belong. xoxo, SWAG