2be941_2ebf591fd89cecc6dfa2ddaebd9cb8acPanorama Elementary students participated in a unique campaign yesterday.

Monday marked World Day of Bullying Prevention, and Panorama kindergarten through 5th graders wore blue shirts as part of their “Stomp Out Bullying” campaign.  Students also attached words of encouragement to helium balloons and released them outside together to spread the positive message.

The school teamed up with the pediatrics department at Guthrie Center Hospital to show students that their words are powerful, whether they help or hurt peers.

Registered Nurse Greg Opseth with GCH Pediatrics, says the event was a meaningful experience, and he feels the students took to heart what he had to say.

“We discussed what bullying is, what it looks like, who’s a bully, how do you help someone who’s being bullied, how do you prevent bullying, what we can do inside the classroom and outside the classroom.  (We) had a little interactive session with the kids and the teachers and I think the kids responded really well.”

Opseth says his involvement with Stomp Out Bullying stems from personal experience with bullying when he was growing up.  He wants kids to know that there is help out there, and that it is possible to stand up to bullying whether its for themselves or for friends.

Opseth encourages anyone with questions about bullying prevention to visit stompoutbullying.org or call Dr. Cody Silker with GCH Pediatrics at 641-332-3920.

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