Schools

Upstanders of Cuyahoga Falls: The New Anti-Bullies on the Block

The new initiative will align parents with the Cuyahoga Falls City School district to help stem bullying.

Bullies beware, the Upstanders of Cuyahoga Falls are coming to a school near you.

At the conclusion of Wednesday’s bullying forum, parent Kryste Lilliquist announced the new initiative, which will “bridge the gap between parents and the school district” and create a more unified front in the fight against bullying.

Their mission breaks down to prevention, awareness and peaceful resolution, she said.

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Lilliquist and the seven other parents who lead the group have already recruited therapists to help treat students who are bullied and the bullies themselves.

Other plans include: distributing Upstander bracelets and t-shirts, working to get a spot in the bicentennial parade, raising money for anti-bullying causes and creating safe zones among the many businesses that are situated near the district’s schools.

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“The safe zones will allow students to escape potential bullying situations, and the storefronts will be marked with Upstander signage,” said parent Danielle DeYoung.

Lilliquist said the efforts of the group will be primarily focused on elementary school children to try and shape anti-bullying perspectives among young students who will eventually make their way up into the middle and high school levels.

Bolich principal John Musat welcomed the Upstanders at Wednesday's forum.

Within the next couple weeks, Musat said a handful of  Upstanders will participate in Bolich’s plan to put parents in school hallways and cafeterias to help identify, report and diffuse bullying situations. 

For more information, check out the group’s Facebook page or contact Kryste Lilliquist at 330-703-6762.


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