John S. Hobart Elementary School marked Bullying Awareness Month in October with a series of schoolwide events focused on promoting kindness and discouraging bullying among students.
Throughout the month, the school organized grade-level assemblies that highlighted themes such as unity, kindness, acceptance, and strategies to prevent bullying. The Suffolk County Police Department’s pet therapy dog, Hamilton, visited the school to reinforce messages about spreading kindness and ending bullying.
Assistant principal and DASA Coordinator Thomas Virgona led an anti-bullying assembly for students. In classrooms, students participated in the fourth annual Anti-Bullying Poster Contest by creating posters centered around friendship and bullying prevention. After all entries were submitted, a schoolwide vote selected the top three creative posters from each grade level. First-place winners received a free book from the book fair, while all top three finishers were awarded certificates, anti-bullying bracelets, bookmarks, keychains, and had their photo taken with school psychologist Joshua Zelin’s pet therapy dog, Kopa. Additional prizes were given to classes that created unified posters for the contest. The winning posters were displayed throughout the school hallways during October.
The school also participated in national Unity Day on October 15 by having staff and students wear orange as a show of solidarity against bullying.
"Several winners from John S. Hobart's 4th annual Anti-Bullying Poster Contest are pictured holding their posters alongside pet therapy dog Kopa! Click the image above for more photos!"
"John S. Hobart assistant principal and DASA Coordinator Thomas Virgona hosts an informative anti-bullying assembly. Click the image above for more photos!"
"More winners from John S. Hobart's Anti-Bullying Poster Contest hold up their posters up alongside school counselor Joshua Zelin and pet therapy dog Kopa! Click the image above for more photos!"