First Annual Walkathon To Raise Bullying Awareness Scheduled In Carteret

EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. - May 6, 2013 - PRLog -- Members of the Community are invited to join forces with Pathways, Carteret’s School-Based Youth Services Program to support the First Annual Walkathon to Prevent Bullying.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 18th at 10am. Walkathon will start on Louis Street outside of Pathways (Carteret High School School’s Based Youth Service Program) where registration and check-in will also take place.

Pathways is encouraging individuals, schools, businesses, and organizations around the community to show their support for its efforts to raise awareness about bullying.

The idea for the Walkathon came from one of Pathways’ student clubs, PALS, a community service program.   Student leaders in PALS felt strongly that too many of their peers were still experiencing some form of bullying, and that the community should do something to help create change.  

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior may or may not be repeated over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems. Bullying can occur during or after school hours. While most reported bullying happens in the school building, a significant percentage also happens in places like on the playground or the bus. It can also happen traveling to or from school, in the youth’s neighborhood, or on the Internet.

Additional facts about bullying:

·         One in seven students from grades K-12 are either perpetrators or victims of bullying.

·         Nearly one-fourth of students from elementary through high school have reported that they have been harassed or bullied at school because of their race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation or disability.

·         Eighty-six percent of LGBT students said that they have experienced harassment in school.

·         An estimated 160,000 children miss school every day because they fear attack or intimidation by bullies.

·         Harassment and bullying have been linked to 75 percent of school-shooting incidents.

·         Fifty-four percent of students reported that witnessing physical abuse at home can lead to school violence.

·         Each month, 282,000 students report being attacked in high schools throughout the nation.

·         Victims of bullying are 2 to 9 times more likely to consider suicide than students who are not bullied.

·         More than two-thirds of students believe that schools respond poorly to bullying, and that adult help is infrequent and ineffective.

Source: http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-more-facts-about-bullying

Carteret mayor Daniel J. Reiman has been invited to give welcoming remarks. Also invited to the event are members of the Carteret City Council, Superintendent of Schools Kevin Ahearn, Deputy Superintendent Kathleen A. Skobo and other members of the Carteret Board of Education.  

Summarizing the thoughts of Carteret students who wish to affect change are those of Jose Lugo, a CHS senior who stated “We are all the same.  You have goals and dreams and so do I.  Why put someone else down because they are different?  Instead, why not pick somebody up and give them hope. It will not only make them happy, but it will make you feel happy too.”  

Sponsorship opportunities are available for interested businesses, organizations and associations. For more information please contact Karen Boateng at karenb@ncadd-middlesx.org or 732-541-8960 ext. 4300.

Pathways was created through a partnership between the Carteret Public Schools and NCADD of Middlesex County, Inc. This partnership has resulted in a safe, structured environment within the school to address the social and health needs of students, ensuring that they are better able to graduate, become employable or continue their education, and lead physically and mentally healthy, drug-free lives.