Students Helping Students Leaders gathered in the all purpose room at Homestead School after bringing the anti-bullying message to every kindergarten and first grade classroom in the Garden City School District.º Nearly 40 Garden City High School Students gave up a high school vacation day this winter to bring an anti-bullying message to the district's three primary schools. The students, members of the leadership group Students Helping Students (SHS), broke into teams that visited each primary school class at Locust, Hemlock, and Homestead schools.

"The main purpose of our visit was to help reassure younger students that although bullying exists in society there are ways to prevent and overcome it," SHS member Lisa Glover said. "SHS believes that impressing younger students with an anti-bullying message will make a positive difference in how these same students will treat others as they get older."

Each team read 2 Kids Lose 2 Kids Win, a story about the impact of name calling and the importance of thinking before acting, to kindergarteners or first graders. They then acted out a skit illustrating a common name-calling scenario and how name calling can be avoided, deflected, and prevented.

Paul Chillelli and Jackie D'Aversa reading to primary school students. The SHS leaders then led a discussion focusing on the importance of treating others with respect and kindness and provided practical tools for their younger counterparts to use in bullying situations that frequently confront younger children. For example, someone cuts ahead of you in line, calls you a name, takes away a ball you are using-what should you do?

"The primary school students were actively involved during the discussion and many shared ideas about how to make the classroom a friendly and safe environment for everyone," Miss Glover said.

Some primary school students also worked on art projects with anti-bullying themes under the direction of the high school students.

"Students Helping Students members are leaders in their school and community and are great role models for their peers, as well as the younger students who are following in their footsteps," Superintendent Robert Feirsen, Ed.D., said.

The older students helped their younger counterparts make art projects with anti-bullying themes. SHS is a group of 60 student leaders in grades 9 through 12 founded in 2006 as a collaborative effort between two existing groups, the Atmosphere Committee and Athletes Helping Athletes. Members of the group were nominated by coaches, counselors and teachers. In the fall, they attended training sessions on their own time conducted by the Nassau County Youth Council, exploring such topics as leadership, character education, techniques for facilitating group discussion, and teamwork.

SHS' first program was a Rachel's Challenge assembly for 8th and 9th graders held early this winter. The assembly focused on the importance of respect, kindness, and good character through the story of Rachel Scott, a student killed in the 1999 Columbine High School shooting. At the Middle School, the leaders viewed the assembly with the 8th graders and then held breakout sessions to discuss what can be done to prevent harassment, both in and out of the classroom.

Primary school students show off their anti-bullying art projects. The group also sponsored Mix It Up at Lunch day to break down the nearly inevitable social barriers that build up in virtually any cafeteria where groups regularly dine. On this day, SHS members encouraged students at the High School to "mix it up" by eating lunch with students who ordinarily sit at different tables.

Brooke Senken and Emily Monaghan reading to primary school students.