eFreePress 10.25.12.pdf - Blue Rapids Free Press

News Blue Rapids Free Press - Thursday, October 25, 2012 3A
Fair Grounds...
The old sheep barn at the Marshall County Fair Grounds in Blue Rapids was demolished last Tuesday evening.
The Fair Board has plans to remove the hog barn and then replace the two buildings with new construction.
VH Bullying Project
In every school there are situations
of bullying; it is our job
not to stand by but to stand up
for the people who are getting
bullied. To help students understand
this point, Valley Heights
High School actively participated
in a nationwide Anti-bullying
week October 1st through
5th to stomp out bullying in
schools. “I think Anti-bullying
week is a very positive thing, it
informs students how to act in
situations and possibly brighten
people’s day,” said Bailey
Boucek, so. “I think a lot more
people will think about what
they do before they do it; I will
definitely think before I speak
and pause before I post.”
To kick off the week, teachers
greeted students at the
school entrance handing out
ribbons and magnets that
encouraged student to act on a
positive manner. Continuing to
encourage supportive behavior
teachers and staff members
sponsored a week-long Acts of
Kindness box, otherwise
known as the A’ok box.
Students could recognize other
students for positive behavior
by dropping their name into the
box. The celebration continued
on Tuesday when teachers preformed
skits written by
Councilor Barbara Buck showing
how bullying can occur.
These skits also helped students
realize just what bullying
behavior looks like.
Another way to end bullying
is to get to know people and
identify commonalities. This
was accomplished by mixing it
up at lunch. Students and teachers
were randomly seated and
assigned questions to ask of
one another. To show support
against bullying, students
dressed in white shirts on
Wednesday, and on Thursday
every English class wrote Ten
Guiding Principles to guard
against bullying. The week
ended on Friday with several
students and groups of students
being rewarded for their participation
with pizza parties and
certificates for the purchase of
pizza.
In addition to the nationwide
Anti-bullying week activities,
Pam Lauer’s seminar completed
their quarterly Random Acts
of Kindness event. “Several
years ago students in my seminar
class decided to perform a
good deed each quarter,” states
Lauer a Valley Heights teacher.
This year the quarterly good
deed of baking, decorating, and
giving away cupcakes incidentally
landed during Anti-bullying
week. Each seminar student
donated supplies and spent
seminar time preparing the
treat that was distributed to all
high school students and staff.
“I feel that doing random acts
of kindness such as this helps
the students learn to work
together and it builds stronger
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bonds among the students in
seminar class,” stated Lauer.
Kristena Crumbley, senior seminar
member and leader of this
quarter’s random act of kindness
said, “It shows that we are
being kind and not excluding
people. We were able to give
everyone a cupcake and not
leave anybody out. It felt really
good to see the reactions of the
students. I like helping people
and our whole anti-bullying is
all about treating other people
right and not excluding them
and this showed that we don’t
want to do that.”
Valley Heights wants to
highlight the fact that bullying
is wrong. “I think having Antibullying
week is very important;
it effects the whole school
environment and learning is
just so much better without bullying,”
says Barbra Buck,
school counselor. What teachers
said they hope for as a result
of this week is for students’
actions to be influenced by the
activities. “I don’t think we
taught anything students didn’t
already know, but I think we
threw them some facts that they
need to remember such as
pause before you post and just
think before you act,” said
Buck.
Interested in Some Extra Cash?
Who doesn’t need extra cash, especially with the holiday’s
just days away? Blue Valley Senior Living is looking for a
PT C.N.A. with the potential for FT for the evening shift.
We’re also looking for a PT RN. If you are interested in the
opportunities we have available, please apply at Blue Valley
Senior Living, 710 Western Ave., Blue Rapids, Ks. or contact
Deb Schwindamann at 785-363-7777, we’d be happy to visit
with you. Blue Valley Health Care is an EOE.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
701 Lincoln Blue Rapids, KS
Each Sunday at 4:30 PM
(starting Sept. 9)
Ages 4—6th grade
*Bible lessons *Games *Prizes
*T- shirts *Snacks
*Earn points to spend in the store
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL:
785- 363- 7547