Mardela Middle and High school launches initiative to prevent bullying

WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. – At Mardela Middle and High School, staff sent a strong message to students to be a buddy not a bully.

With almost 700 students at the combined middle and high school, school counselor, Mary Bose, said staff are doing all they can to make sure no student is left unheard; she said there are some common indicators that a student could be facing bullying.

“We look mostly for students that are withdrawn, or maybe if we see them with friends they usually hang out with and they’re not hanging out with them as often, maybe if they’re more quiet or pulled back, we look for signs like that,” Bose said.

Throughout the school, you can find handmade signs by students, encouraging their peers to be kind to one another. Bose said these reminders are important, because bullying is not a one size fits all act.

“It’s not anyone who has a particular thing, it happens with everyone, and sometimes people do it and they don’t know that they’re doing it,” Bose said.

“We make sure that we work with everyone to let them know. We go into classes to have lessons, and we’re always out in the school to help them and just remind them of things that they’re doing that maybe they didn’t know they were being a bully,” Bose added.

And school social worker, Rebecca Raygor, said parents should be equally as involved in the fight to prevent bullying.

“It is important that parents talk with their students and also have a good communication with their teachers and administration, and they certainly can reach out and be participating in parent teacher association,” Raygor said.