Bullying Prevention Week at St. Vincent de Paul
It’s Bullying Prevention Week and I was honoured to be invited as a Guest Speaker at St. Vincent de Paul Separate School for grade four to eight students. I was welcomed by many student teachers, who offered to lend a hand as we came in today. Mr. Basran, Principal, warmly welcomed me and was very happy to see me again.
I had the distinct pleasure to meet Mr. Basran back on May 9th, 2019, when he was the Principal at St. Helen. What a honour to be remembered and invited to speak to his students at his blessed new school.
In the gymnasium, I received great assistance from Mr. Antoniw, teacher, and two grade eight students, Kayson and Aiden. They assisted setting up the Projector, Projection Screen, the microphones and the sound system.
Before getting started, Mr. Antoniw gave me a kind introduction and spoke about the theme of the week: Bullying Prevention.
Following my presentation, the students had many questions for me and I was thrilled to hear, as many as time allowed.
Pictures were taken; however, Mr. Basran requested they not be posted as many have not shared consent.
Before I left the gymnasium, there were many students who came to lend a hand and put away chairs. Kayson, Aiden and Luca, all grade eight students, helped to put away school technology. Aiden assisted in taking the respective Exit Ticket envelopes to the teachers, and then before we left the school, he kindly collected them too. Luca and Kayson helped take my walker, communication stand etc. to the doors nearest to the special needs parking. These three young men were most amazing, and I felt very happy with all their genuine kindness.
Once students left the gymnasium, they completed their Exit Tickets. Here are some of the Reflections from this afternoon:
Today, I heard / saw … “Asking Giselle questions and information”
This made me think … “about not bullying anyone”
Now, I wonder … “Why a few people bully the people that have disability”
Today, I heard / saw … “That Giselle is amazing.”
This made me think … “That never be rude.”
Now, I wonder … “That must hurt so much.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle is special. That life can be hard, but you don’t let that stop you. Keep going.”
This made me think … “That Giselle is amazing. She can do anything.”
Now, I wonder … “Why she is having so many difficulties.”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw a person that was named Giselle.”
This made me think … “About how hard it is to go through that.”
Now, I wonder … “I wonder that what her parents think about her.”
Today, I heard / saw … “A girl that faces lots of hard things in life.”
This made me think … “This made me think not to listen to rude comments.”
Now, I wonder … “How to fight the rude comments.”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard how rude people were to Giselle.”
This made me think … “Why are people so mean to her.”
Now, I wonder … “how the computer works.”
Today, I heard / saw … “about Giselle’s negatives and disabilities.”
This made me think … “that you should be thankful and kind.”
Now, I wonder … “about how I can make better choices and always be kind.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle. We should be grateful for what we have.”
This made me think … “We are all different people.”
Now, I wonder … “how would I feel like that.if that was me.”
Today, I heard / saw … “how no matter what you can do it”
This made me think … “how I can make the world a better place”
Now, I wonder … “how much I can do”
Today, I heard / saw … “A presentation”
This made me think … “Are there people like her around the world”
Now, I wonder … “did she get bullied”
Today, I heard / saw … “A presentation on Giselle’s life”
This made me think … “Of how brave and loving she is”
Now, I wonder … “how did she find this strength”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard Giselle talk about her life”
This made me think … “About how tough it must’ve been for her”
Now, I wonder … “Who was mean to her and gave negative comments”
Today, I heard / saw … “the way a girl with needs talked about her life and saw a presentation.”
This made me think … “how I would feel if I was her”
Now, I wonder … “how her life is now”
Today, I heard / saw … “of bullying”
This made me think … “of care, love and “
Now, I wonder … “if I can be better in life.”
Today, I heard / saw … “a person with some disabilities”
This made me think … “how is it like having disabilities”
Now, I wonder … “is there a rare amount of people that have that disability”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard I saw to be kind person”
This made me think … “to be kind and caring”
Now, I wonder … “If I can still make up for what I have done”
Today, I heard / saw … “About self”
This made me think … “about disability.”
Now, I wonder … “More about self”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle talk”
This made me think … “How special people are.”
Now, I wonder … “When her birthday is”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard about a girl”
This made me think … “about bullying and to love yourself”
Now, I wonder … “why do bullies bully people and do they regret bullying”
Today, I heard / saw … “An amazing girl who did a good job presenting.”
This made me think … “that all people are amazing”
Now, I wonder … “how amazing people are.”
Today, I heard / saw … “A woman doing a presentation about improving yourself.”
This made me think … “If other people have been encouraged by this.”
Now, I wonder … “How can I improve?”
Today, I heard / saw … “about Giselle”
This made me think … “about my life”
Now, I wonder … “What did it feel like”
Today, I heard / saw … “a speech”
This made me think … “why are people mean”
Now, I wonder … “is the world nice”
Today, I heard / saw … “I see picture of baby”
This made me think … “It made me think of God”
Now, I wonder … “I wonder where baby”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle speak.”
This made me think … “To not bully anybody and to stand up for people that are getting bullied.”
Now, I wonder … “Why people bullied her.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Today I saw a new face”
This made me think … “That it was fun”
Now, I wonder … “if she was nervous.”
Today, I heard / saw … “A woman that stood up to bullying.”
This made me think … “How can I stand up to bullying”
Now, I wonder … “how can I be more positive”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle speak”
This made me think … “to not ever bully”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle Gaylie”
This made me think … “a woman with disabilities .”
Now, I wonder … “if I am spoiled.”
Today, I heard / saw … “that you should never let somebody put you down.”
This made me think … “that you should always be grateful.”
Now, I wonder … “Why people bully each other.”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw how she was special”
This made me think … “Not to bully!”
Now, I wonder … “What is Giselle’s favourite number”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle Gaylie talk about love.”
This made me think … “about times I felt negative.”
Now, I wonder … “how many people have issues.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle Gaylie”
This made me think … “of bullys”
Now, I wonder … “how the screen works does she talk?”
Today, I heard / saw … “about Giselle story.”
This made me think … “How Giselle feels?”
Now, I wonder … “How Giselle makes me happy!”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle talking about bullying”
This made me think … “When people were being mean to me.”
Now, I wonder … “Will people start bullying me again?”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle, her family.”
This made me think … “What does she do when mad?”
Now, I wonder … “How did she get all the technology”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle Gaylie”
This made me think … “To stay positive”
Now, I wonder … “how its like”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle tried her best.”
This made me think … “that everyone matters and everyone cares.”
Now, I wonder … “How other people that have disadvantages feel.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle Gaylie”
This made me think … “how is she so powerful”
Now, I wonder … “how she is so brave”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle, her story.”
This made me think … “How hard was it for her?”
Now, I wonder … “What was it like.”
Today, I heard / saw … “how to love yourself even if you are unique”
This made me think … “that not everybody is the same, and you shouldn’t treat people differently because of their unique characteristics”
Now, I wonder … “Is it hard for her to stand / walk.”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw Giselle talking about love”
This made me think … “of how lucky I am”
Now, I wonder … “how she lives her life joyfully?”
Today, I heard / saw … “about how Giselle Gaylie lives.”
This made me think … “that everyone counts and are special.”
Now, I wonder … “if someone is mean to Giselle is she negative in her thoughts.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Dear: Giselle Someone said ‘You’re so pretty’”
This made me think … “of how nice this world can be”
Now, I wonder … “if this world will always be like this.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle Gaylie”
This made me think … “about me and her I am so happy I can move my arms and legs but feel bad for Giselle.”
Now, I wonder … “How she feel about what I said.”
Today, I heard / saw … “a presentation from Giselle, a woman with a disability.”
This made me think … “It must suck having such a disability.”
Now, I wonder … “What it would be like to live with a disability.”
Today, I heard / saw … “A woman who doesn’t let a disability stop her.”
This made me think … “Anything is possible”
Now, I wonder … “How is she always so positive.”
Today, I heard / saw … “That everyone is loved”
This made me think … “Am I really loved?”
Now, I wonder … “If I am loved?”
Today, I heard / saw … “A public speaker talk about love & self”
This made me think … “about how I view myself and love”
Now, I wonder … “how I can get better at love and how I view myself.”
Today, I heard / saw … “a public speaker with cerebral palsy”
This made me think … “about others that are struggling”
Now, I wonder … “How I cam make a difference”
Today, I heard / saw … “Today I saw, I heard Giselle talk to us about love and to be YOU”
This made me think … “How you should not bully others that are struggling”
Now, I wonder … “How I make a difference’
Today, I heard / saw … “A presentation about bullying & how to deal with it”
This made me think … “How can I take Giselle’s advice & apply it (if I need it)”
Now, I wonder … “How can I make a change to someone’s life.”
Today, I heard / saw … “A public speaker with cerebral palsy “
This made me think … “How you should treat others”
Now, I wonder … “How I can make a difference”
Today, I heard / saw … “A public speaker with cerebral palsy”
This made me think … “How can I use the advice Giselle said”
Now, I wonder … “How does Giselle never let sad comments get to her”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle, her mom, and her dad”
This made me think … “What disability does Giselle have”
Now, I wonder … “How is Giselle?”
Today, I heard / saw … “What she goes through”
This made me think … “How many people get bullied”
Now, I wonder … “Why do people bully others”
Today, I heard / saw … “She went to LCSS.”
This made me think … “about people’s feelings.”
Now, I wonder … “how difficult her life might have been.”
Today, I heard / saw … “The meaning of LOVE. We love you”
This made me think … “How pain full it is.”
Now, I wonder … “What I can do for others.”
Today, I heard / saw … “How to be strong and stand for others”
This made me think … “That I am good the way I am”
Now, I wonder … “How can I help other people”
Today, I heard / saw … “The meaning of love”
This made me think … “How I can show love”
Now, I wonder … “How I can help others”
Today, I heard / saw … “You get a lot of help”
This made me think … “It is hard to have a disability”
Now, I wonder … “if the computer dies”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle Gaylie.”
This made me think … “how many people are like Giselle”
Now, I wonder … “If I will ever see Giselle again”
Today, I heard / saw … “her side of cyber bullying”
This made me think … “Never let a bully stop me from pursuing my dream”
Now, I wonder … “what the world would be like without BULLYING “
Today, I heard / saw … “Today I heard everything about Giselle’s life”
This made me think … “This made me think how confident she is.”
Now, I wonder … “Now, I wonder how happy she is.”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw a lot of kindness”
This made me think … “How can I be kind”
Now, I wonder … “How to be nice”
Today, I heard / saw … “something inspirational”
This made me think … “You are very brave for going and speaking”
Now, I wonder … “how can I be a better person”
Today, I heard / saw … “a brave person”
This made me think … “that she is a good person to be brave”
Now, I wonder … “how can I not be angry”
Today, I heard / saw … “That Giselle was able to stand by herself”
This made me think … “How Giselle has a disability and not her brother”
Now, I wonder … “if we will see Giselle again “
Such inspirational, thoughtful, and empathetic reflections by students.
It was truly a wonderful afternoon inspiring student at St. Vincent de Paul!
