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3-3-15 — South Group Takes Stand against Bullying, Suicide
March 3, 2015 ~ Everyone has a bad day once in a while. Sometimes those negative emotions surface in an argument with a friend, classmate or relative. On occasion a bad day leads to bullying others as a way to feel important. In extreme cases this bullying turns inward in the form of suicidal thoughts.
Members of the B.R.A.V.E. (Bystanders Rising Against Violence Everywhere) group at Olathe South High School are working hard to take a stand against bullying in all forms.
"Research shows that student-led programs are most effective in impacting students to listen and make positive changes," said group sponsor Helen Hardgree, who also teaches the gifted program. "These students hope to bring awareness and give a voice to kids who have been bullied and those who stand by silently as others are victimized."
Hardgree brought B.R.A.V.E. to Olathe South when she joined the staff last year. It is a subgroup of the Friends of Rachel Club.
"When the idea was initially presented, there was no question about the potential for this group," Principal Phil Clark said. "When we learned about the participants and their level of interest, it was no longer a matter of potential. It really became about the impact they would choose to make."
B.R.A.V.E. includes about 30 students from freshmen to seniors who present theatrical performances and guided discussions at Olathe's middle schools.
"Both through on-site performances and discussions, the B.R.A.V.E. team hopes to help hundreds, then thousands of students to stand up, speak out, and be a part of the positive change," Hardgree said. "B.R.A.V.E. hopes to start a chain reaction that empowers students to stand up for what is right with the hope that this will translate into attitudes and behaviors promoting safer and healthier learning environments."
In addition to the middle school performances, B.R.A.V.E. members are working on a message for their high school peers. "I Choose to Live" is the title of their suicide prevention presentation planned for April.
"We anxiously await the roll-out of 'I Choose to Live' to the student body at Olathe South," Clark said. "We anticipate their message will remind each of us to look after ourselves and one another. B.R.A.V.E. affords this group of talented students the opportunity to capture, develop and deliver a message which we all find incredibly important."