Students receive anti-bullying lessons

11 years ago
fs-lcs-bullying-dcx-ar-6-clr
Photo contributed by Rani Belanger
    Wendy Page, community educator for the Aroostook Mental Health Center sexual assault services recently spoke with students of the Limestone Community School. Shown here, from left, front row of desks, are seniors Jordyn Hopkins, Alexis Bell and Kelsee Albert.

By Natalie De La Garza
Staff Writer

    LIMESTONE — Students at the Limestone Community School recently had a visit from Wendy Page, community educator for Aroostook Mental Health Center sexual assault services; Page spoke with the students on topics of cyber bullying, bystander intervention and online safety with an emphasis of not sharing personal information.

    “What you’re posting now does affect your future with college and work, so be mindful of what you put out there,” Page explained.
    Though older students learned more about online safety, younger students learned about personal body safety.
    “Another way of putting it is their personal space,” Page simplified. “It’s establishing boundaries at a young age, to know what’s comfortable for them and if they don’t feel comfortable, being able to say so — and being able to say no.”
    This is the second year Page has worked with students at Limestone, and LCS Guidance Councilor Rani Belanger said that the students have been very receptive to the messages.
    Page knows that students are listening to what she has to say because many remembered her message from last year’s presentation.
    Whether elementary students or senior citizens, Page says there’s one thing we can all do to make the region a nicer place:
    “Just being nice to people,” she said. “Treating people how they want to be treated, and listening.”
    Pages teaches free school seminars in Aroostook, Washington and Hancock County, but the messages are echoed throughout the state with shared curriculum.
    Anyone interested in having Page visit their classroom or school can contact her at 493-3361.