LETTERS: SERMS makes efforts to put end to bullying

With October being Anti-Bully Month, I wanted to share several things that Southeastern Randolph Middle School has been up to in order to improve unity and steer away from bullies!

Some may know already, my son Zackery Holley passed away on Sept. 2, 2024, by suicide as a result of being bullied. He was only 13! Middle school kids can be mean and with hormone changes and life changing, it’s up to us to keep reminding them to be the change we want to see in the world!

At open house, I spoke with a teacher, Mr. Leonard, about an Art Project to have positive student generated art on the walls in our school. Mr. Leonard reached out to the art teacher, the guidance counselors, the school social worker and the principal and our PTO and a few ideas were born. 

For October, all of the kids schoolwide are participating in “Community Circles” which is set up to help improve communication, inclusivity and empathy.

Community Circles are a structured, respectful group discussion where all students sit together in a circle and have an equal chance to speak and be heard. They are designed to build relationships among students and staff and strengthen our community. There is a talking piece that gets passed around to ensure that only one person speaks at a time and respect from everyone else. 

For Bullying Prevention, the Community Circles have focused topics around how we should celebrate each other’s unique qualities rather than pointing out or criticizing our differences. We also hope that students see that they connect with others more than they might think.

This was noted by several veteran teachers as being the first time they have ever seen Community Circles done as a schoolwide project!!

We are also working on an amazing art project that is centered around the book “We are Different” where kids have worked with the art teacher to create abstract self portraits that will be displayed around the office window for all students to see. 

Something else I am super excited about is the words “WE ALL BELONG” that will also be added on the wall to at the office.

The PTO has taken things a step further and is taking the art designs and will be turning them into T-shirts that each member of the student body will receive as a way to celebrate our differences and come together in unity!

Lastly, my 7th grade children Kylie Miller and Wyatt Holley have handed out hundreds of bracelets, stickers, pens and even toy ducks that help promote suicide prevention AND antibully efforts among their peers. 

I also recently discovered the Start with Hello and the S.A.V.E. promise Club (Students Against Violence Everywhere) through the “Sandy Hook Promise” and am working with the councilor to see what we need to do to start these events/club within our school!

I am super excited about the changes that are happening at Southeastern Randolph Middle School to engage kids, promote unity and prevent bullying and believe this is a STORY WORTH TELLING!!!

Lori Hunt

Asheboro