Ocean Road Students Pledge to STAMP Out Bullying

Last week students at Ocean Road Elementary School made a pledge to STAMP Out Bullying. The oath was taken at a special assembly held during the school's Peace Week.

Initiated to coincide with National School Violence Awareness Week, Peace Week includes a variety of activities designed to help educate students, faculty and parents about what they can do to recognize and prevent youth violence and bullying.

The STAMP Out Bullying presentation consisted of several skits written and performed by Point Pleasant Borough High School Acting students.

"My students were instructed to create a lesson about bullying through a theatrical skit," said Dramatic Arts Teacher Mrs. Rebecca Muraglia. "They [the students] came up with the STAMP concept."

STAMP, an acronym to educate students about how to confront bullying, stands for Stay away from bullies, Tell someone if you are being harassed or are a witness to bullying, Avoid bad situations, Make friends, and Project confidence.

According to Mrs. Muraglia the students in Acting II and III performed skits that portrayed various bullying scenarios as well as potential solutions.

"The goal of the skits is to help define bullying to the elementary school students," continued Mrs. Muraglia. "Sometimes young people can exhibit bullying behavior without realizing it. The skits serve to educate students about typical bullying incidents that can occur in a school setting while also helping to empower bystanders to stamp out bullying."

The 25-minute presentation included skits that portrayed incidents of name-calling, ridicule, teasing and harassment. After each skit, the scenario was presented again but with the addition of an intervention by a bystander.

The presentation ended with a skit that portrayed an incident of bullying on the school bus. The scene involved a bully teasing a younger child regarding a school project. The skit was narrated by an original rap song performed by the entire cast.

"Keeping our schools bully free, safe for you and safe for me," the high school and elementary school students chanted in unison.

"Peace Week is all about learning how to make good, safe choices and building positive relationships with others," said Ocean Road Principal Sheila Buck. "Peace Week reinforces the six pillars of character education while promoting tolerance and acceptance of others. The STAMP Out Bullying presentation helped provide students with practical methods to achieve conflict resolution."

Mrs. Buck said the STAMP Out Bullying concept will be supported throughout the school with posters emblazoned with the pledge and its meaning.

"Bullying is an unfortunate reality among young people," said Superintendent of Schools Vincent S. Smith. "Often, young people may not comprehend the deep and long lasting effects bullying can produce. It is our responsibility as educators to foster a learning environment free of bullying and intimidation that balances academic pursuits with character education," he continued. "Ocean Road's Peace Week is one example of a district-wide commitment to eradicate bullying in our schools."