Numerous events were held in schools throughout the Neenah Joint School District on Nov. 26 as part of “Bullying Awareness Day,” which was a joint effort between the school district and the city of Neenah.

The resolution stated that the school district city “resolve their unified commitment to the education and prevention of bullying within our communities, schools, and workplaces; exploring solutions to the problem, including cyber bullying, and offering support in raising awareness.”

Schools watched videos and heard announcements about preventing bullying. Schools also held class discussions about making positive choices and encouraged students to discuss bullying at home with their parents. There were several other examples of specific activities at schools throughout Neenah:

• Neenah High School had events during each class period, including having students anonymously write down a secret or thought that may have never have been revealed. The cards were then posted in the hallway for all students to view. Students also had the option of filling out “Kind Apology” cards where they desire to make amends with someone and then give the card to that person. All students filled out “Kind Pledge” sheets that are also being displayed at school.
   
• At Coolidge and Tullar Elementary Schools, classes created “circles of defense” where students placed a bead on a wire while pledging one thing they will do to prevent bullying or stand up against it. Coolidge teachers switched rooms throughout the day and held class discussions to show students they are united against bullying, while Tullar emphasized the role of the “defender” to step in to help students who are being bullied.
   
• Students at Wilson and Clayton Elementary Schools wore blue to represent the anti-bullying message. Along with some grades at Tullar, the students also filled out class pledge sheets and “pinky swear” sheets while painting their pinkies blue to show their commitment to anti-bullying.
   
• Hoover Elementary students also had their pinkies painted Hoover red to "pinky swear not to bully." The event followed an all-school assembly that focused on the "power of one" student standing up to bullying.
   
• Horace Mann Middle School students put footprints on the wall of the cafeteria to “step up so that others don’t get stepped on.” The school also encouraged students to sit at different lunch tables to get to know others throughout the school.
   
• At Roosevelt, Alliance and Lakeview Elementary Schools, students were given a paper “Band-Aid” and wrote what they can do to “stop the hurt” of bullying. The Band-Aids were placed into a display outside the cafeteria. Lakeview students also did an all-school stomp out bullying classroom activity and wore blue wristbands that said, “Lakeview is banding together against bullying.”
   
• Spring Road and Taft Elementary School students wrote their names on red cups and promised not to bully and to stand up to bullies. Taft students placed their red cups on the fence outside the school to celebrate their bully-free school.
   
• Shattuck Middle School had a special homeroom lesson created by a student-led "bully prevention task force." Their focus on bullying awareness will continue on Dec. 4 when Climb Theater acting troupe leads a special assembly.

“While this event helped bring awareness to the issue of bullying, this is not just about one day,” Neenah superintendent Mary Pfeiffer said. “This is part of a continual conversation with an emphasis on treating each other in a respectful and caring manner.”

Nearly 30 percent of youths in the United States are estimated to be involved in bullying each year, and between 30 and 50 percent of employees in the United States are subject to workplace bullying sometime in their careers.