Fourteen of Greater Lawrence Technical School’s student leaders have invested in themselves and others to help stop bullying, according to the school.
During the holiday season, GLTS’s Reggie Leaders, a group of active student role models, joined nearly 5,000 middle and high school students and teachers from across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, for STAND UP 2012. This one-day program aims to encourage people to take a stand against all forms of bullying was created to educate, motivate and empower young people to actively promote positive change in their schools and communities.
“During the day, students discussed the issues and came up with a plan for implementing their ideas in their own schools,” said Beth D’Entremont, advisor to the Non-Traditional and Peer Leaders student groups. D’Entremont was joined by fellow Reggie Leaders advisors Bryant Dube and Brenda Coady.
Miguel Beltran, a senior from Andover, has always been against bullying. He remembers moving to the area from California and observing bullying between two students. He approached the bully and told him to stop. Today, the student he defended is a close friend and will thank Beltran often, according to a release.
“I support this [STAND UP 2012],” said Beltran. “We will help in any way we can.”
GLTS celebrated National Kindness month in November and the Reggie Leaders planned a special exercise for the STAND UP 2012 conference. Beltran said the Reggie Leaders made a poster listing acts of random kindness they’ve done in the past. GLTS students then brought 1,000 peace signs to STAND UP 2012 for the other participants, who signed and shared their acts as well. This activity was repeated at GLTS during lunch periods throughout December, according to a release.
The GLTS students participated in break-out groups with peers, enjoyed featured speakers, and competed to receive a recognition award for developing their own innovative program to deal with bullying.
“Having our students participate in STAND Up 2012 is instrumental in understanding of the impact of bullying and empowering them to ensure it doesn’t happen,” said GLTS Principal Elizabeth Freedman.
