By paNOW

Pink Day celebrated by students

Feb 17, 2017 | 3:03 PM

At least two Vincent Massey Community School students would step in to help a fellow classmate if they were ever bullies.

Sese Nguyen and Hermela Kiflay, both in Grade 8, attended the Red Cross Pink Shirt Day event at Carlton Comprehensive Public High School. Roughly 1,100 students from 14 schools with the Sask. Rivers Public School Division attended the rally, which featured an energetic basketball and former Roughrider Luc Mullinder.

One of the main messages of the rally was to stop bullying, a message both Sese and Hermela agreed with.

Sese said bullying is a big problem but not at her school.

“Our school is just so nice and everybody is so friendly and they get along well,” she said. “If I saw bullying happening, I know it sounds like every answer but I would [stand up] and help. People shouldn’t be experiencing something like that could be threatening.”

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Hermela echoed Sese’s stance and added she would probably go find a trusted adult to help if she saw bullying.

Not all bullying happens at school especially in the digital age where nearly everyone is connected through the Internet. Hermela said if someone is being chastised online, the simple solution is to blocking them from pursuing further contact.

“When you hear stories about bullying and stuff, it just makes you feel like why would people do that?” she said. “It’s just not a good thing. Some people actually die.”

Mullinder called the massive rally a tremendous engagement by school staff. He said the messages about anti-bullying and keeping a community healthy is important for students to learn.

When trying to get that message across, Mullinder said it’s important to do it creatively.

“Bullying changes,” he said. “There’s so many ways people can use their power to put someone in an emotionally unstable situation. Kids don’t want to just sit in the classroom and have it be a part of their curriculum. This is a great way.”

Richard Ahenakew, chair of the executive committee for the Red Cross, wanted to show his support to the Riders and all the staff who were helping students through difficult situations. He said the Red Cross is a caring organization and that includes supporting anti-bullying initiatives.

Robert Bratvold, director of education with Sask. Rivers Public School Division, added cyber bullying is challenging but is an extension of the work done at school.

“Children, youth and their families know the importance of respectful and empathetic behaviour in the classroom, the grocery store and wherever they are with people,” he added. “Then it is a matter of extending that to when they are online.”

Email: Jeff.Labine@jpbg.ca.

On Twitter: @labinereporter.