With October named National Bully Prevention month, it was fitting for the newly formed Colt Bullying Intervention Club to present their intentions to the Clear Fork Board members at their meeting Thursday evening.
The club was formed at the end of last year when a group of students who had repeatedly witnessed acts of bullying were motivated to stop it. After many discussions with the assistant principal, the club was formed and is comprised of nine to 12 members. Club members Chelsea Wertz and Aja Perry presented activities and goals the group is planning for the school year in order to create awareness of the subject.
The purpose of the group is to promote awareness and educate students and staff on how to identify bullying, co-bullying and to prevent bullying. Wertz and Perry presented the board with the various forms of activities and educational means the group has created in order to fulfill their goal. Passing out educational pamphlets, hanging posters with statistics of bullying, showing an educational video, creating and performing skits that represent bullying scenario and forming a kindness in action project were among the ideas presented by the students.
“We thank you for taking the initiative; that’s one thing we are proud of. We have students at Clear Fork who aren’t afraid to stand up for something and want to do something about it,”said board president Gary Mathes.
Jeff Gillson of the Clear Fork Wrestling Foundation presented the board with a donation consisting of a wrestling mat valued at $8,871.76. In hopes that the wrestling program will have the opportunity to host a sectional wrestling tournament, Gillson proposed the board match the donation and approve the purchase of a second mat.
“Bringing a sectional tournament to Clear Fork, to the athletic program would be a great thing. The revenue alone and the opportunity for our wrestlers would be great,”said Gillson. He added,”We want to support that.”
Mathes replied,”Your whole foundation is doing a great job.”
The board moved to look into the availability of funds in order to match the donation stating that it was not an unreasonable request.
“We thank you for taking the initiative; that’s one thing we are proud of. We have students at Clear Fork who aren’t afraid to stand up for something and want to do something about it,”said board president Gary Mathes
