Rotary supports anti-bullying curriculum

The Georgetown-Millsboro Rotary Club, concerned about the reported increase in bullying in local elementary schools, decided to do something about it. Club President Linda Price conceived the idea and wrote a grant to provide anti-bullying resources to Georgetown, North Georgetown and East Millsboro elementary schools. Steps to Respect, a whole school anti-bullying curriculum valued at more than $1,000, was provided to each school.

Young children look up to and emulate teens. For that reason, 10 Sussex Tech students were recruited to create and present an anti-bullying role-play focusing on verbal, physical and cyber bulling. As a test, the role-play was presented to 100 fifth-grade students at Georgetown Elementary. The presentation was well received by students and teachers and will be offered to all three schools in October during National Bullying Month.

The Sussex Tech students were recruited at the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Conference. The students were interviewed and selected based on their leadership skills and community service. All 10 students received a full scholarship to the weekend conference provided by the Georgetown-Millsboro and Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary clubs.

Rotary District 7630, which includes all of Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore, provided $2,000 with Georgetown-Millsboro Rotary contributing $1,000. Rotary, the world’s leading community service organization, has recently increased its focus on youth programs, creating Youth Service as the fifth Avenue of Service. To learn more visit www.gmrotary.org, www.rotary7630.org or rotary.org.