Anti-Bullying Week is a world-wide week of recognition during the third week of November aimed to raise awareness about the bullying of children and the general youth. The week is dedicated to highlighting ways to prevent and respond to bullying in a wide array of situations. Wakefield’s counselors and the Anti-Bullying Club have worked extremely hard to make their mission evident to the student body.

In the past, Anti-Bullying Week has proven effective through the increase of Anti-Bullying Club membership and general awareness of bullying. Although the Anti-Bullying Club has made great strides in the past, the club’s ambitions are still driven towards improving the way people are treated and being able to identify bullying in its multiple forms.

“The goal is to provide people with enough information so they can recognize what bullying is, step in, and help,” said Anti-Bullying Club advisor, Jason Johnson. “What I’m hoping Anti-Bullying Week will do is give people an opportunity to talk about being victimized, and to make sure that other people don’t have to be a victim of bullying.”

Anti-Bullying Club would be nothing without the devotion of its members, officers, and the passion they pour into sharing their goal. For people who truly fall victim to bullying, this club provides a safe-haven that allows members and anyone in need to express their feelings and experiences with others who have been through similar struggles.

“We are just trying to bring awareness for the people who don’t come forward because of bullying,” said Anti-Bullying Club Vice President, Amber King. “The club is full of members that are very dedicated to helping.”

Members of Anti-Bullying Club know that it’s very hard for people to comfortably come forward, so that is why Anti-Bullying Week will include immense outreach. The club plans to pass out flyers, present case studies, and engage face-to-face with students at Wakefield to make their mission clear and to let the people know that this club is open to anyone here at Wakefield.

“More people have joined our club because of Anti-Bullying Week in the past,” said Dominique Palmer, President. “This club allows someone to take a stand for something that they believe in.”

As President, Palmer collects member’s hour logs, comes up with new ideas to spread the club’s mission, and works to improve the club as a whole.

“The Anti-Bullying Club really allows you to make a difference in another person’s life,” said Palmer. “What I look forward to this week is letting people know that they are not alone.”

If anyone ever feels alone, or if they are at the point where they feel that there is no one to turn to, Anti-Bullying Club is here to  act as an outlet to help those who are in this position. One of the club’s main goals is to remind members that you really never understand what another person is going through.

“When I started the club, I quoted Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird,” said Johnson. “‘You don’t know somebody until you walk around in their shoes.’”

Anti-Bullying Club is the not the only force at Wakefield working towards executing a successful Anti-Bullying Week. Dr. Laura Inscoe, Dean of Students, and the board of counselors at Wakefield have big plans for Anti-Bullying Week this year.

There will be lessons in class each day, daily statistics, a booth in the commons, and different themes for each day of the week targeted to spread awareness, heighten the school’s knowledge of bullying, and spread positivity. One of the most prevalent themes will be the effect social media plays on modern bullying.

“My goal is to make people think twice before making poor decisions on social media,” said Inscoe. “Also, through random acts of kindness, people will be able to see kindness.”

Inscoe and Mr. Gibbons, Inscoe’s intern, will facilitate various activities to spread compassion that will inspire others to make wiser decisions and avoid putting others down. There will be a compliment bowl, a Twitter “selfie” contest that will allow others to engage with people they usually would not have before, and daily announcements to help encourage relations at school.

“Our focus is for people to just be nice to others, appreciate people, and let other people see the good in people instead of bullying,” said Inscoe.

If nothing else, the people involved want this week to change lives for the better and make it known that help can always be found. There are still issues to be dealt with, but hopefully making this issue a priority will encourage students to speak up.

“Our goal is to make it safe for people to come forward,” said King. “Because if they don’t, nothing is going to get resolved.”