Middle school students working to change attitudes

Sparta - Twenty Sparta Middle School H2H members attended Taking Flight to Change, Sussex County Middle Schools Conference. The Conference was held at the McNeice Auditorium at the Sussex County Technical School and was sponsored by the Sussex County Coalition Healthy and Safe Families. The purpose of the conference was to initiate a countywide effort to curb bullying in schools. The students and staff participated in several presentations and workshops where they learned about the different types of bulling and ways to reduce its effects. As part of the conference, the Sparta H2H members developed an action plan to improve the school climate and reduce bullying incidents. The plan was activated when the students retuned to school after the holiday vacation. The participating students presented their three-part plan to the entire student body during grade level meetings. The plan, which is designed to be simple and student centered, identified some H2H members as contact persons for other students to confide in when they feel bullied. The H2H members believe students will be more willing to confide with a peer than with an adult. The names and photos of the contact-students are posted on a bulletin board in the cafeteria. According to the plan developed by the students, after the initial contact is made, the H2H members are required to report it to teacher John Cantelmo, who is serving as peer leader advisor for the group. The report is then sent to the guidance department. The second part of the plan calls for the installation of a “concerns box.” Students will be encouraged to write down incidents of bullying or any other concern, and place into the student maintained “Concerns Box.” Once incidents are reported, they will be handled by the Sparta Middle School’s Guidance Department. The last part of the plan was to have the student body sign a banner featuring a positive message for the students. The banner is hung in the cafeteria as a reminder to the student body of its commitment to make the Sparta Middle School a bullying-free place.