**LA School Anti-Bullying Pizza Party**

Lowery Elementary School reached their goal of reducing bullying in their school! As promised, MSF provided pizza, drinks and cookies on May 19, 2017. The students thoroughly enjoyed the pizza party!

GA & LA Back to School Events

also attended the event and provided anti-bullying information with blow pops, as well as 150 care packages to students. As usual, Markus Wingfield of Mark & Company Barber Shop cut hair for free. This is the 5th year that MSF has participated in the event. In Louisiana, MSF had the pleasure of providing school supplies, 200 care packages, and inspirational quotes with blow pops to Donaldonsville High, Lowery Middle, and Lowery Elementary schools. The foundation also gave 32 book bags to students in need at a Baton Rouge apartment complex, and another 30 to a church in White Castle, La.

MSF Cyber Bullying Event

MSF hosted its annual anti-bullying event in Donaldsonville, LA on Thursday, October 26th. The foundation spoke to 5th graders at Lowery Elementary and 6th through 8th graders at Lowery Middle School. This was MSF’s first time speaking to the middle school. The presentation focused on cyber bullying. The students received certificates for them to sign pledging not to bully, cyber bullying pamphlets, anti-bullying wrist bands and bookmarks. The students had opportunities to win prizes for answering cyber bullying questions throughout the event. Several videos were shown including one created by the Loganville Middle School Under Covering Bullying Officer’s (UBO) club in Loganville, GA.

Executive Director of MSF, Shannon Singleton, said, “I really appreciate everyone who helped to make this happen. This was a crucial event that touched hundreds of students in different states across various grade levels. Our GA and LA MSF staff members paid their own way to travel and/or took personal time off from their jobs to attend. We had a first-time MSF volunteer, Marianne Henson, who also traveled from Georgia for the presentation. Office Max in Loganville, GA and Office Depot in Gonzales, LA helped sponsor the event by printing the pamphlets and certificates for free. Bullying is a serious problem in many schools here in America and across the world. Events like these will help to stop bullying.”

Bullying is a major issue that students face every day. MSF wants to make sure conversations are started to help improve the situation. Over the course of this week, we will post interview articles from school staff members that participated in the event. The interviews will focus on the impact the presentation had in each school. We encourage you to not only read the articles, but to join in the conversation and take action.

Cyber Bullying Interview 1: Edward Glauser

During the cyber bullying event, several videos were shown. This included one created by the Loganville Middle School Under Covering Bullying Officer’s (UBO) club in Loganville, GA. The club is unique as it is an anti-bullying club. MSF and the UBO club partnered to create the video. We reached out to the group’s sponsor, Mr. Glauser (school counselor), to talk about making the video.

MSF: Why did the UBO club decide to create the video?

Mr. Glauser: The UBO video has been a wonderful tool to use when I talk to students who have had experiences with bullying behavior and feel alone. I show them the video and they want to join UBO on the spot! The video can also be used to share with other schools so they get excited about starting their own version of a bullying prevention and a peer support group that empowers each member and makes them feel a part of a school family that cares deeply about them.

MSF: What impact did the video have on the UBO members?

Mr. Glauser: The UBO members felt so proud of what the video represented and got excited about seeing their fellow UBO members on the video. They also bring in other students into my office and ask me to show them the video so their friends join UBO.

MSF: Is there anything else you would like the readers to know?

Mr. Glauser: The UBO video totally captures how critically important UBO is to all the members and how it helped so many in our group to feel so much better about themselves, have much higher esteem, and helps them to blossom to more of their fullest potential, since the bullying issue is no longer destabilizing to their functioning. They have become happier people and want to reach out to others who are suffering from bullying experiences and feel isolated. Lastly, working with Shannon Singleton and the Myles Singleton Foundation has been such a boost to the club in so many ways. We are more cohesive and effective as a club due to Shannon’s influence. The club members see her both as a mom figure and a friend, and they feel so at ease with her, that she makes the meetings more fun and nurturing.

MSF would like to especially thank the Walton County School Board, Loganville Middle School and the UBO Club for their partnership!

Click on the link below to watch the video!!!!!!

Cyber Bullying Interview 2: Ashley Churbock

Ashley Churbock is the counselor at Lowery Elementary School. She has partnered with MSF for the past 2 years to host anti-bullying presentations at the school. Last year, 3rd through 5th graders attended the event. This year, the focus was on 5th graders. MSF spoke to Mrs. Churbock about the cyber bullying presentation.

MSF: Overall how do you think the event went?

Mrs. Churbock: I liked this year’s set up better and felt the kids were able to better engage in a smaller setting. I know that this topic can be intimidating to speak about in front of a group, especially for those who have been victims of bullying. I think the timing/length of the sessions were good and were informative but not too long for their attention spans!

MSF: What impact do you think the presentation had on the students and staff?

Mrs. Churbock: I think the staff and students were reminded about the basic bullying definitions and what it looks like but learned more about how widespread of an issue this is and that there can be serious ramifications. I liked Deon’s story because I think it brought the seriousness of how a small thing like forwarding a message can have really big consequences and that she, personally, can speak to how it impacted not only her son but also her, as his mother. I think having these discussions and lessons for our students is really important because we can’t stress this issue enough. Our students need constant reminders about what bullying is (and is not), the consequences and affects it has on the victim, bully, and others. Kids have a hard time being empathetic at times but educating them helps build this skill and work towards a more understanding and compassionate school!

MSF: Is there anything you’d like the readers to know?

Mrs. Churbock: I really want educators and parents to understand how to better help their children be more compassionate and empathetic towards others. Not only should we focus on how to help victims and bullies….but also the bystanders! Teach our kids to stand up for others and have integrity and to model for them what that looks like. We can’t expect our children to be kind and loving if we aren’t modeling that for them. Listen to children, advocate, teach, and inspire them!

Cyber Bullying Interview 3: Paul Sampson

This was MSF’s first time presenting an anti-bullying message to Lowery Middle School. The foundation wanted to reach middle school students because it knows how crucial the middle school years can be for children. We asked Mr. Paul Sampson, Assistant Principle of Lowery Middle School, a few questions about the event.

MSF: What impact do you think the presentation had on the students and staff?

Mr. Sampson: It opened eyes. Its been my experience students do not realize the seriousness of what they say/post on the internet. Your presentation and personal stories really brought it home to them.

MSF: What can parents do to help eliminate bullying?

Mr. Sampson: Talk to their children. About their experiences growing up if possible. Kids appreciate learning from their parent’s experiences

MSF: What would you like the readers to know or do?

Mr. Sampson: Talk to their children about being empathetic. Empathy is the key to preventing bullying. The ability for kids to put themselves in someone else’s shoes.

MSF looks forward to continuing its work with Lowery Middle to combat bullying!

PADV Thanksgiving Events

MSF held its annual Thanksgiving events for PADV on November the 4th and 11th. We served turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, snap beans, corn bread muffins, 7-layer salad and brownies and ice cream. The organization partnered with inspirational speaker Robyn Robbins to give her presentation, "Transforming Negative Experiences". She shared strategies and insights on how she transformed negative experiences in her life and made vision boards with the parents.