Students, teachers, counselors and administrators at Phillips Middle School all made an extra effort last week to make sure that everyone does their part to prevent bullying.

“Try to sign kind of small,” said Six-Grade Counselor Aaron Murphy, to a line of Phillips Middle School students waiting to sign an anti-bullying pledge posted on a wall of the cafeteria on Oct. 22. “We’ve got to fill a lot of spaces.”

Students signed the pledge poster and wore orange in support of Unity Day, a nationwide effort of the PACER National Bullying Prevention Center, which has been promoting Anti-Bullying month all through October.

In preparation for the big day, some of the kids participated in a rap video produced, directed and edited by School Counselor – and, apparently, rapper — Kevin Duquette.

“Our whole student services department is going to be in the lunches, talking with kids,” said Duquette. “That way, if kids want to talk to us about bullying, we’re all here.”

Phillips has a history when it comes to the bullying issue.

Back in 2011 and 2012, students, parents and staff spoke out about what they called a serious bullying problem at the school. Demonstrations and a lawsuit followed, and Principal Cicily McCrimmon ended up leaving.

Principal Rydell Harrison is new at the school. He said that Unity Day presents an opportunity to remind kids of the importance of a safe school environment.

Harrison said he understands what happened in the past, and that the best antidote to bullying is education.

He added that the school has a no-tolerance policy. All reports of bullying at Phillips are investigated, either by himself or Assistant Principal Kristin Walker.

“The most important thing about that whole process is what happens after,” said Harrison. “And that’s intervention. That’s where we’re really blessed to have some great counselors, and our school social worker.”

Eleven-year-old Riley Akos, a sixth-grader at Phillips, said she hasn’t experienced bullying personally, but she recognizes that prevention is important.

“I have not seen any, like, physical bullying,” said 11-year-old Riley Akos. “But I’ve seen cyber bullying, and, like, exclusion from some of the sixth graders here.”

Jacob Summers, also 11, said he has a more personal experience with bullying.

“I’ve been bullied a couple of times before because I have glasses, and I’m not as athletic as other people,” said Jason. “And I’ve also seen bullying, because, well, it happens almost always, and I want to help prevent that.”

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