Voorheesville students create anti-bullying videos for Bullying Prevention Month

VOORHEESVILLE, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — Students at Voorheesville Middle School are taking part in an inspiring new project this school year. They’ve produced a series of anti-bullying videos designed to raise awareness and promote kindness among their peers.

The project, which coincides with October’s Bullying Prevention Month, features four short videos created by the students, aired during the school’s morning announcements for grades 6 through 12.

Michael Horan, a senior who helped create the videos, explained the concept behind the project. “We were given a guideline—do something with anti-bullying every week,” Horan said. He added that the goal was to emphasize that seeking help from a teacher or friend is a supportive act, not something to be ashamed of.

Elliot Chismark, a junior and lead writer for the videos, shared how the students use humor to engage their audience. “We try to use humor because we know that’s entertaining,” he said. “It’s fun, with moments of laughter and people falling over, but it also delivers a message at the end. We want people to learn something.”

The idea for the student-produced videos came from Cathleen Goodwin, assistant principal of the middle and high schools, and the district’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion coordinator. “I think having them make the project their own has really made it take off,” Goodwin said. “It’s been wonderful to watch the kids write the scripts, edit, and handle everything themselves.”

High school principal Lisa Cardillo praised the students for taking charge of the project, especially on an issue as important as bullying. “It’s about creating an atmosphere where everyone understands that this is a problem we have to address,” Cardillo said. “We can’t just sweep it under the rug.”

The videos, now featured in morning announcements, continue to reach and impact students across the school, offering them valuable lessons on standing up against bullying.

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