October was observed as National Bullying Prevention Month, a good time to raise awareness of bullying prevention through events, activities and education.
October was observed as National Bullying Prevention Month, a good time to raise awareness of bullying prevention through events, activities and education.
Hawaii’s annual E Ola Pono Campaign, now underway, encourages living pono (making good choices) as a proactive and positive way to address this need.
In its eighth year, the statewide E Ola Pono Campaign encourages youth teams, clubs, classes and groups of all ages to create activities or projects that encourage respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.
There are many creative ways student groups choose to do this each year.
Participants in this year’s campaign include one of last year’s winners, Kapolei Middle School’s Pono Club, led by Jill Yamasawa, an AVID teacher. Students plan to create a sense of community at school and in the Kapolei area. One activity will be an appropriately themed art contest for all Kapolei students.
“When students work together to beautify a place, serve those in need, educate others, or create something that makes people think, feel and act positive, the whole place benefits,” stressed Sara Ka‘imipono Banks, coordinator for the E Ola Pono Campaign.
Kapolei Middle’s participant reflection from last year verified this as they stated, “As a class, we have seen fights being prevented, bullying reduced, and our school has seemed a lot happier ever since we wrote those messages on the ground.”
Information about entering the campaign and extensive resources to teach character-building life skills are available at the Growing Pono Schools (GPS) website at www.growingponoschools.com.
Groups that join the campaign and submit all required documents by May 15 become eligible for monetary awards of up to $1,000.
Questions can be directed to Banks at sarabanks@hawaii.rr.com or GPS Project staff member Randee Golden at rgolden808@gmail.com.