Written by: Seth Gordon, Newberg Graphic
When it comes to bullying, Chehalem Valley Middle School principal Karen Pugsley admits she has a strong preference for how to combat such cruel and destructive behavior: that sugar is a lot more effective than vinegar.
More specifically, Pugsley believes that encouraging positive behavior works better than discouraging or punishing bad behavior, in part because bringing attention to negative behavior can often fuel it.
"I want to put the emphasis on the opposite, which is kindness," Pugsley said. "Because we believe that the antidote to bullying is if we're kind to one another."
That was the genesis of the "Kindness Matters" campaign, which is also notable to Pugsley because it highlights another positive development at the school, which is increased parent participation.
The campaign is one of about 25 initiatives being led by parents, who responded to parent group leader Emily Klumak's call last year to help staff at the school by taking point on a variety of efforts to make improvements at the school.
Parents led the initiative to recognize three student "kindness leaders" last spring and this year have already expanded the program to include 16 students and seven staff members.
The leaders were selected after reviewing the results of a survey created by initiative leader Heidi Hopkins, who asked students and staff to recall when others went out of their way to help someone, stood up for someone who was being treated poorly or were patient in a stressful situation.
It was Klumak's idea to celebrate the kindness leaders — sixth-grade students Mercy Sterling, Julian Ramos and Garrett Chaffee; seventh-grade students Carter Bass, Emma Vaughn and Kaelani Lewis; eighth-grade students Anna Hinkle, Colin Bolek, Ella Moriarty, Fer Hernandez Valencia, Landon Williams, Lydiah Dennis, Malki Amaya, Sydney Johnson, Shae Bland and Zach Sterling; and staff members Kelly Halstead, Heidi King, Kim McDonough, Jessie Rainwater, Dave Sanders, Sandra Shine and Debbie Tofte — by throwing them a build-your-own pizza party Jan. 5 with the help of the Red Hills Market pizza truck.
"It was really lovely," Pugsley said. "I think the staff, the ones who were recognized, really felt great. That's also part of what we want to acknowledge is that we as adults, we model this behavior."
Bass and Moriarty were two of the three students to be named leaders last spring (and were selected again this year). They said they like the idea of the of the campaign because it focuses on positives, but that they were caught off guard when they were recognized as leaders.
"It's really cool," Moriarty said. "I feel so good. I didn't know people thought of me that way 'til then."
They both reported feeling that the atmosphere around the school has been more positive and supportive, which is exactly what Pugsley had in mind.
"I think our goal would be to make sure people are feeling like they are appreciated for doing the right thing as opposed to doing it in silence and not ever knowing that it made a difference in someone's life," Pugsley said."Kindness is really powerful."
