Planting the values for education

Bowling Green hosts anti-bullying, beautification initiative

Posted

Dozens of Bowling Green Elementary School students could be seen near the school’s front entrance last Friday afternoon, burying shovels into the ground, with fresh dirt covering their hands and faces.

The students were planting orange flowers in a unified, symbolic effort to stand up to bullying. October is recognized nationwide as National Bullying Month, with the color orange as its symbol.

The anti-bullying event was multipurpose: it also served as a beautification project. Principal Maria Ciarametaro said it was the school’s Planning Management Team — a group of administrators, teachers and Parent Teacher Association members — that decided last month to host an event that combined anti-bullying and beautification.

And that’s why, at 4 p.m., students stuck around after school with their parents to do some gardening while also letting the community know that bullying will not be tolerated at Bowling Green. “I know sometimes bullies want to hurt people,” said Sophia Ruperto, 9, a fourth grader. “I want to stop it so no one has hurt feelings.”

Ruperto, a member of Girl Scout Troop 1486, was one of many students who wore their Scouts uniform, to further reinforce the community nature of the event.

Ciarametaro and assistant principal Amelia Garcia began the event with a short ceremony, thanking community members for their participation. “Even though we are all different,” Garcia said. “We are all a part of this community, and we are much stronger when we come together.”

PTA member Kim Frank, who heads the group’s beautification projects, arranged a donation by Cipriano’s Nursery in East Meadow, which donated the majority of the flowers.

Ciarametaro, Bowling Green’s principal for 12 years, said school officials plan anti-bullying initiatives that involve student interaction. The students, she said, enjoy coming together in a group for positive reasons.

Another schoolwide program, Goodwill Ambassadors, involves students volunteering during recess to reach out to other students who might be playing alone. “The purpose is to befriend other children.” Ciarametaro said. “Just really being a positive presence on the playground.”

Page 1 / 2