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About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 8, 2017)
BREAK THE SILENCE Club aims to send a message of positivity and respect Treat others with respect, confront bullying By Katherine Lacaze For Seaside Signal The members of Seaside High School’s latest club, es- tablished this fall, are focused on disseminating a message of positivity and exhibiting respect for their peers, teach- ers and other acquaintances to improve the social climate of their school. “It’s going to be a process, but we hope by the end of the school year, there will be a noticeable change,” said advi- sor Shirley Yates, the school’s attendance assistant. Break the Silence, which was approved as an official club in November, was born from a movement that start- ed last school year. A group of students organized a Hap- piness Sprinkling march in May, during which they took to the streets of Seaside with positive messages, yellow attire and uplifting music — an idea borrowed from the Anacortes Center for Happi- ness, which put on a similar demonstration in Anacortes, Washington, in May 2012. In conjunction with the project, then senior Gage Cain, who graduated in May, wrote a rap song with lyr- ics that included the phrase “Break the Silence” and em- phasized the importance of treating others with respect and confronting bullying. That phrase, Break the Silence, naturally fit as the club’s title, Yates said. president Celeste Kerr, vice president Lola Paser-John- son, treasurer Dalton Smith, secretary Angel Dowell, fund- raising director Jaedyn Bligh, and communications director Garret Kiser. The club meets on Wednes- days after class in the school library. Positivity, goodwill and honor SUBMITTED PHOTO Break the Silence club president Celeste Kerr, vice president Lola Paser- Johnson and communications director Garret Kiser of Break the Silence. The club recently achieved official status at Seaside High School. “We thought, ‘that’s what we want to call our group, because that’s what we want to be about,’” she added. “It’s not anti-bullying, it’s pro-hon- or; we want it to be a positive thing, not an ‘anti-’ thing.” As an official club, they elected officers to serve during the school year that include GO GULLS! GOOD LUCK TO ALL FALL ATHLETES, TEAMS & COACHES!! Proudly supporting SHS activities for over 54 years! • 2 LOCATIONS • Downtown Cannon Beach 503-436-2641 Seaside Outlet Mall 503-738-7828 www.brucescandy.com In large part, the club was started as a response to the rampant bullying and vio- lence — which can mani- fest in various ways — that pervades not only schools nationwide but other social spheres, as well. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Ser- vices’ StopBullying.gov web- site, between one in four and one in three U.S. students say they’ve been bullied at school on a basis of disability, sexu- al orientation, race, religion and/or gender. Most bullying happens in middle school, and the most common types are verbal and social. Different demographics of students are affected at different rates. To address the issue, how- ever, Yates and the students hoped to provide a group that stressed a positive behavior in lieu of focusing on the nega- tive one. Members of Break the Silence are seeking ways to show others they are valued and honored, despite differ- ences. Their means of spread- ing that message include put- ting happiness magnets on the lockers, and each month, they will distribute cards with an af- firming message to all students with a birthday in that month. % 10 OFF FOLLOWING ALL SHS WINTER SPORTING EVENTS k Good Luc GULLS! Wear your Seagull Gear and MENTION THIS AD to receive the 10% OFF! Dine in only at Seaside and Gearhart locations Gluten Free Pizza Available Now hiring good people and good students, come join our team! SEASIDE FULTANOS GEARHART FULTANOS 215 BROADWAY 3518 HWY 101 NORTH 503-738-5612 503-738-5333 Seaside Signal/Cannon Beach Gazette • 3