Imagine waking each morning paralyzed by anxiety, accompanied by feelings of despair and hopelessness. You wish that it would all go away. Unfortunately, this is a reality for far too many students. Bullying has festered into a major problem in our society. It is estimated that 160,000 children miss school every day due to the fear of attack or intimidation by other students. American schools harbor approximately 2.1 million bullies and 2.7 million of their victims. At Westbridge Academy we not only recognize this growing problem but have taken the proper steps in educating our staff and students by hosting a series of presentations on anti-bullying.
On January 9, 2012, the students of Westbridge Academy took part in the Straight Talk Bullying and Bias Assembly which was presented by Steered Straight, Inc. This program is part of a non-profit educational and prevention/intervention organization, committed to reaching children, teens, and young adults. The assembly emphasized the realities about one’s life choices and the importance of one’s actions. The Straight Talk Bullying and Bias Assembly was a innovative way to address the growing problem of bullying and the increasing need for effective prevention. The uniqueness of Straight Talk was through the messenger; people that have lived with, witnessed, and have been directly impacted by the consequences of bullying and bullying violence. These real-life messengers helped our students gain a better understanding about anti-bullying so that they can feel empowered to deal with this issue in their everyday lives. We believe that every student deserves to enjoy a sense of safety and well-being while growing up.
