Schools

BMS Program Stresses Respect For Peers

Challenge Day comes to Beachwood Middle School

Beachwood City Schools' 7th- and 8th-graders spent a day learning a powerful message last week: respect each other.

"You don't really know what's going on with other kids outside of school," said Cameron Umpleby, a 7th-grader who participated in the day-long group seminar that, by late afternoon, felt like a pep rally for respect.

Seated in the gymnasium at with the over 100 kids in the 7th-grade class, students took turns at the mic at the end of the day, thanking friends, apologizing to kids they had hurt or pointing out something important that they had learned during the day while their peers held their hands in the air in the "love" sign.

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After each student's turn, their peers clapped and cheered. 

"One of the most important messages today was that, no matter what they're going through, there's someone else who's going through the same thing," said Jennifer Tobin, a 7th-grade science teacher who, along with a couple dozen other teachers and adult volunteers, went through the program with the kids.

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"It really brought our grade closer together," said Umpleby.

The PTO sponsered the program, which was held at BMS for the first time last week. For more information about Challenge Day, click here.


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