If you watch television at all, you have probably seen a show or news clip recently on the damaging effects bullying has on students and the community they live in.

Calhoun Middle-High School will host the 1st annual Calhoun Anti-Bullying Awareness Week, November 15th through the 19th. The public is invited to join-in and help make it a community wide event.

People often don't understand the amount of pain bullies can cause until it happens to someone they love. Some facts that have been downloaded from different search engines include, 1. In a recent study, 77% of students nation wide say they have been bullied.

2. Admittedly, half of those incidents go unreported.

3. 160,000 students across America fear going to school each day.

4. 90% of 4th through 8th graders report being a victim of bullying.

5. 32% of parents fear for their child's safety while at school.

6. 282,000 students in secondary school are attacked each month.

7. Bullying has been linked to 75% of school-shooting incidents.

Being bullied should not be looked at as a rite of passage through school but more as a public health problem that demands everyone's attention.

Below are listed some daily goals that students (at all grade levels) and the community can do to show individual, group and community involvement to aid in the awareness and hopefully the elimination of bullying in our schools and community.

Monday through Friday Anti-Bullying Awareness Week, activity list

Monday
Students will be doing door decorations; Community, please wave or smile at a stranger.

Tuesday
Students, Act of Kindness Poster Day. (Students to make posters at home unless teachers make it a class project). Posters to be displayed throughout the schools; Community, feel free to make a poster for your workplace.

Wednesday
Students, Wear *Yellow Day (Suicide Workshop for high school 10:30 to 11:00). Sign anti-bullying pledge during lunches; Community, Wear Yellow Day, invited to the workshop.

*Yellow is the Universal color for friendship.

Thursday
Students, Give a Yellow Flower Day. Decorate lockers; middle and high school. (Students bring own decorations). Bev Morford and students with The Learn and Serve Committee at elementary schools; Community, Give a Yellow Flower Day.

Friday
Students, Respect Life Day (Cafeteria employees will serve yellow apples at lunch. Elementary schools are encouraged to join in serving yellow apples); Middle school students will have an anti-bullying workshop (8:30-9:00); Parents/Guardians workshop (8:00-8:30 at CCMHS commons) discussion on what parents can do at home to prevent bullying. Refreshments to be served; Community, Respect Life Day. Eat a yellow apple day.