All We Need Is Love Johnson County Andrea Hall

Junior Division

Highland Elementary School

Single Year Project

PART I: PROJECT OVERVIEW

A. Area of Concern

As we began brainstorming ideas for our Community Problem Solving Project, we became bombarded with the desire to help children in our school.  One of the sixth grade CmPS team members noticed a younger child sitting on the playground all alone, as another student taunted her with name calling as they kicked rocks in her direction. She sat on the ground as tears rolled down her face, and she never uttered a word. The team member ran and reported what she saw to the teacher on duty and the teacher quickly put a stop to it. The next day on the playground, the same thing happened to a different child. However, the response of this child was different than the child the day before. The second child decided to fight back with several fist punches. The teacher once again intervened, stopped the fight, and both boys got into trouble. Upon observation, we noticed that there were many students in our school that seemed lonely with low self-esteem. We noticed that students with low self-esteem have trouble communicating with their peers perhaps due to a lack of self-confidence. So, we conducted a survey among the students in our school. Our survey results showed that the biggest concern of students in our school was bullying. So, we decided to help the students by starting a STOMP OUT BULLYING project. We quickly realized the only thing every child desires is to be loved and accepted by others; therefore, we came up with our project title, “All We Need Is Love.” Immediately, we set up a meeting with our principal and school resource director. They agreed to help us. In addition, they gave us names and numbers of contacts in the community that would help us with this endeavor. With much excitement, we set out to begin our project.
Our CmPS Team plans to raise money to help students who are getting bullied at school. Our ultimate goal is to build a “buddy bench” out of recycled plastic and place it on our playground. When a student feels as if they are in need of a friend, they will sit on the bench. Then, one of our CmPs team members or any student in the school, will go sit and talk with the student sitting on the bench to help encourage and uplift them. We feel the need to help everyone realize that they are important and no student is better than the other!

B. Challenges Identified

1.  Our school has students that physically bully other students.  This may be a problem because students who bully others may get into trouble with law enforcement.  Statistics show that students who bully others at a young age are more than likely to cycle in and out of the criminal justice system.  As a result, they may spend the majority of their lives in jail.

2. Students in our school are afraid of other students. This may be a problem because students may live in fear. As a result, the students may not want to go to school, which may hinder education progression within the school.

3.  Some students at Highland Elementary do not have adequate educational materials in the classroom.  This lack of supplies may be a problem because students may be bullied by other students who have a sufficient amount of supplies.  Victims of childhood teasing may become very angry and aggressive. As a result, the student may start a fight and cause bodily harm to a classmate. 

4. Students that receive good grades in class are bullied by athletes at Highland Elementary. This may be a problem because athletes are perceived as idols in today’s society. As a result, the athletes may continue to bully others because they think they are better than everyone else.

5. Students that wear name-brand clothing tease students that do not wear name-brand clothing at our school. This may be a problem because teasing is degrading and those being teased may feel inferior to other students. As a result, the students being teased may stop communicating with their peers.

6.  Students at Highland Elementary are being bullied because of their weight. This may be a problem because research shows that students who are bullied because of their weight tend to have low self-esteem. As a result, these students may reach adulthood and have severe health problems because of their obesity.

7.  Pupils at Highland Elementary are being teased about their religion. This may be a problem because the students may become ashamed of their beliefs. This may cause them to feel like an outcast. As a result, students may abandon their religion in order to fit in with their peers.

8. Our survey monkey showed that one in three kids are victims of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying takes place on instant messenger services, social networking sites, and online games. This may be a problem because parents and school staff may not be aware of it. As a result, a student may harm themselves because the bullying never ends.

9. It has been proven that low socioeconomic status contributes to bullying risks. This may be a problem because Highland Elementary has a high enrollment of low socioeconomic families. As a result, the lower socioeconomic students may become aggressive towards their peers.

10. Students that do not practice good personal hygiene are being bullied at Highland Elementary. This may be a problem because the students are being secluded during recess. As a result, these students may not develop social skills necessary to acquire friendships.

C. Underlying Problem

Since students at Highland Elementary are being bullied, how might we increase peer communication in order to advance the self-esteem of students in 2016 and beyond?

D. Alternative Solution Ideas

1. In order to increase peer communication, All We Need Is Love will distribute brochures to the students and community to help raise awareness of bullying. These brochures will offer information about how to stop bullying, where to report it, and where to receive help.

2. All We Need Is Love will advance the self-esteem of students by writing a grant.  The ARI (Appalachian Renaissance Initiative) Grant provides money to applicants with opportunities for real-world project based learning that solve community problems.  By getting this grant, we will be able to purchase the buddy bench for the playground.

3. So that we will advance the self-esteem of students, All We Need Is Love will sell pretzel rods and suckers to students in their school.  All We Need Is Love will sell these items during their snack and recess.  The profit from the sale of the pretzel rods and suckers will be used to fund educational games that will teach students about bullying.

4. In order to advance the self-esteem of students, All We Need Is Love will hand paint the breezeway in our school. Every time a student passes by, they will see encouraging quotes and messages that will motivate them to stop bullying and sustain healthy friendships. These motivational statements will encourage students to get along.

5.  All We Need Is Love will increase peer communications by conducting surveys within our school. These surveys will pose different questions about bullying. These surveys will give us information so that we can help decrease bullying more effectively.

6.  All We Need Is Love will host a choral concert in conjunction with the Johnson Central Middle and High School choirs in order to raise awareness for our project within our community. We will read quotes that discourage bullying between performances.

7. So that we will increase peer communications, All We Need Is Love will create a website. The website will be used assist those being bullied. If students can seek help, bullying will decrease dramatically within our school. Everyone will know about this website and they will be allowed to get on at any time throughout the day.

8. In order to advance student’s self-esteem, All We Need Is Love will announce uplifting quotes over the school intercom every morning. These quotes will be focused on the things students can do to make their lives better. Students will use these quotes as reassurance and motivation to do well through the course of the day. This will help students realize they are all created equal and no one it better than anyone else.

9.  All We Need Is Love will increase peer communications by hosting a schoolwide dance. This dance will be an event where students can interact with each other, learn about their schoolmates, and respect their differences.

10.  In order to advance student’s self-esteem, the students and staff at Highland Elementary will take the pledge to stop bullying. In order to do this, they will visit kycss.org and take the pledge. They will promise to be strong, understanding, powerful, encouraging, and respectful individuals.

11.  All We Need Is Love will create a bullying hot-line. This hot-line will be used to report any foul behavior such as teasing or bullying. When someone is being bullied or witnessing bullying behavior, they will anonymously submit who is bullying so the situation can quickly be taken care of, which will emphasize a bully-free school.

12. All We Need Is Love will implement schoolwide jobs. These jobs will be given to many of the students throughout Highland Elementary. Students will submit an application for the job they wish to receive. Students will perform these jobs on a daily basis. These jobs will promote self-esteem due to a sense of accomplishment.

13. Peer communication will soar when All We Need Is Love purchases a “Buddy Bench”. This bench will be placed on the playground outside. When someone is in need of a friend, they will sit on the bench. Then, one of our team members or any student at our school will sit with them and give them companionship.

14. All We Need Is Love will read books about bullying to children in younger grades at Highland Elementary. Reading books and teaching children about the harm of bullying will prevent students from doing it when they are older. This will make a lasting effect on the students because children of different ages will know the danger of bullying at a young age.

15. Self-esteem will increase when All We Need Is Love provides Pride and Respect Certificates to students who show respect for others. Any faculty member that witnesses a student displaying respect for others may distribute the certificate as well.

16. All We Need is Love will hold periodic school assemblies to motivate, uplift, encourage, and educate students about bullying. These assemblies will help create a positive atmosphere in our school and community.

E. Plan of Action
The objective of “All We Need Is Love” is to increase peer communication while advancing self-esteem among students at Highland Elementary. Our best solution is the making of the “buddy bench” on the playground where students that need a friend will sit on the bench and a member of our team will sit with them and give them companionship. We will work diligently throughout the year to raise money by having various fundraisers as described below. Our plan for the year is as follows:

• August 2015 – First meeting; conduct survey monkey; select topic; meet with Mr. Castle for approval; begin research; school rally; read books to primary
• September 2015 – Elect officers; meet with resource director; write grants; create and hang up posters to raise awareness; create and send home flyers with every student at our school; presentation to school staff; morning announcements
• October 2015 -Pizza Hut Fundraiser; Arby’s Fundraiser; school assembly; presentation to parents; create team website; read books to primary classes; morning announcements
• November 2015 – Baked cookies and candy; make and distribute brochures; candy bar and sucker sales; school safety pledge; held bake sale; morning announcements
• December 2015 – Create power point for television publicity; Christmas concert to raise awareness; contact local newspaper; read to primary classes; morning announcements
• January 2016-Paint windows in main hallway; Intent to Submit to KAAC; apply for Wal-Mart service grant; paint school breezeway; morning announcements
• February 2016-Valentine’s Dance; finish scrapbook; submit CmPS project to KAAC; read to primary classes; morning announcements; Sweet Frog fundraiser
• March 2016- McDonalds’s fundraiser night; CmPS State Competition interviews; morning announcements
• April 2016-Appachian Renaissance Initiative CmPS Presentation at EXPO Center in Pikeville, Kentucky; Construct a “buddy bench” for the playground; continue fundraising; morning announcements; read to primary classes
• May 2016-Continue reading to primary classes; morning announcements; Continue fundraising
• June 2015-Attend FPSPI in Michigan

Part II: IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN

A. Actions and Outcomes to Date

All We Need is Love has been very active in the school and community. Our actions have indeed raised awareness of bullying, increased peer communication, and advanced self-esteem. First of all, we wrote and applied for an ARI (Appalachian Renaissance Initiative) grant.  This grant awards monies to applicants with opportunities for real world project based learning that solve community problems. Unfortunately, we did not receive this grant. However, we applied for the STARS grant money, through Noel Crum, Innovation Coordinator at the Johnson County Board of Education, and received $1,000.00 in grant monies to purchase a buddy bench for the playground. Presenting our project to the faculty and staff of our school has enabled us to get our school community on board with our project. We then held assemblies at school to motivate and encourage student involvement. Bullying is a real problem and it takes all of us to lessen the effects that it has created. We made posters and flyers to raise awareness about bullying. We also painted motivational phrases on the windows in the main hallway, as well as, the breezeway windows. These phrases encourage everyone to treat others as you want to be treated. All You Need Is Love collaborated with the choir director at the middle and high school.  The middle school and high school choir, along with All You Need Is Love, hosted a Community Christmas Concert at the Sipp Theater in Paintsville, and involved our community in this endeavor. We collected admission money at the door and sold refreshments to the nearly 250 attendees. Our school dance resulted in students communicating with each other and having a fun time together. The interactive dances during the Valentine dance forced students to interact with each other and encouraged students to respect their differences. Our morning announcements have proven to have a positive impact in the school. They are a daily reminder that we all are created equal and deserve respect and kindness. The announcements encourage students to stay positive and focused on the good in others. We create a website, allweneedislove.webs.com that offers valuable information on bullying and its effects. It also offers a tip-line for anonymously reporting bullying behavior. Sharing books with younger students helps to educate students at a young age and change their thought process about bullying. It has also helped us, because raising awareness about bullying, encourages us to be more positive and encouraging individuals. We will continue to read to the younger children throughout the year and do morning motivational announcements over the intercom. In addition, we will present our project at the Appalachian Renaissance Initiative Summit in Pikeville, Kentucky. Our buddy bench will be place on our playground at the beginning of April and we expect great benefits and life altering effects!

B. Organization

President……………………………………………….Macy Conley
Vice- President………………………………………Shelby Lemaster
Secretary……………………………………………….Holly Williams
Treasure………………………………………………..Marie Bosse-Joseph
Senior Photographer……………………………….Olivia Spradlin
Junior Photographer……………..………….Dianna Ward
Technology Coordinator…………………………Oliva Estep
Grant Writing…………………………………………Macy Conley
Article Writer…………………………..…..Hannah Piadad
Advertising…………………………………Zoey Curtis
Collections Committee…………………………….Olivia Estep, Shelby Lemaster
Morning Greeters……………………………Emily Farler and Kylee Webb
Morning Announcements………………….All Members
Scrapbook Committee…………….……….All Members
Fundraising……………………………………………All Members

C. Resource Identification and Utilization

In creating and implementing our plan of action, we consulted the following resources:
• Shawn Castle–Highland Elementary Principal
• Barbie Mullins-Paintsville Tourism Consultant
• Sara Hill-Paintsville Herald
• Thom Cochran–Johnson County Board of Education Director of Pupil Personell
• Chad Curtis—Pepsi
• Jack Joseph—Pharmacist
• Kathleen Burchett–Family Resource Director at Highland Elementary
• Andrea Hall–Teacher and CmPS Coach
• Tammy Webb–Psychologist
• Dorothy VanEppe–Bumble Bee Fundrasing
• Lisa Salyer—Technology Specialist
• Melissa Slone–Counselor at Highland Elementary
• Randy Fitch–Wal-Mart Manager
• Noel Crum–Johnson County Board of Education Grant Writing Specialist
• Jennifer Williams– East KY McDonald’s Secretary
• Gail Grim–Arby’s Manager
• Kelli Thompson–Appalachian Renaissance Initiative
• Amy Conley-Johnson Central High School Choir Director
• Pam McCarty–Financial Officer at Highland Elementary
• Shevona Leslie–Pizza Hut Manager

Part III: PROJECT OUTCOMES

A. Accomplishments
All We Need is Love set out to accomplish many goals. Raising awareness by our uplifting morning announcements, posters, and painted breezeway lifted the spirits of the entire school! We had encouraging feedback from our principal who stated that less students were being sent to the office for bullying offenses each month. In addition, we raised over $3,200 to purchase books, games, and supplies to host our events that increased interaction among peers. Finally, we received a grant in the amount of $1, 000 to purchase our “buddy bench.”

B. Reflection on Outcomes
All members of All We Need Is Love believe that our plan of action was successful in increasing communication among peers and advancing self-esteem. We received an overwhelming response from our community in helping with our project. Our community concert held at the Sipp Theatre to raise awareness in Paintsville had over two hundred people in attendance. Most of all, we received the blessing that comes with helping increase students’ self-esteem. Instead of avoiding discussions dealing with bullying, our school counselor said that students are now beginning to talk and open up about bullying!! We completed a project that opened doors to the future! In evaluating our project, we would have done a few things differently. We would have reached out to other schools in our county. For all members of our team, it was a very rewarding experience and we feel our project was a success.

C. Scope of the Project

Our project had a positive impact on the students at Highland Elementary as well as our community. We received letters of thanks and appreciation from teachers and students within our school as well as business owners and parents in the community. The communication and collaboration within our community and our school was essential for success of the project. Our motivational morning announcements was essential for our projects’ sustainability throughout the school year. It continually uplifted, encouraged, motivated, and challenged students to be nicer to one another. The most relevant portion of our project will be the “buddy bench” placed on our school playground in May. This bench will be used for many years at Highland Elementary! Because of our project, “All We Need Is Love,” we will live each day in an encouraging and uplifting environment within our school and community.