The Mattituck High School SADD club is taking steps to encourage students and staff to take a stand against bullying by promoting a program known as UPstart.
The Upstander program teaches kids how to be socially responsible. According to its website, an Upstander “recognizes when something is wrong and acts to make it right. When an upstander sees or hears about someone being bullied, they speak up. Being an upstander is being a hero: we are standing up for what is right and doing our best to help support and protect someone who is being hurt. In many ways, this is another word for being socially responsible.
On Monday, Oct. 23 the SADD club members will conduct an Upstander workshop for the third graders at Cutchogue East Elementary School. The workshop is entitled Standing Up for Justice and it explains the positive and negative power of being a bystander. It teaches students how to become “Upstanders” by doing the right thing when they see someone being picked on.
On Wednesday, Oct. 25 SADD club is hosting National Unity Day district-wide. This is a day that encourages students and staff to stand together against bullying and to be united for kindness, acceptance and inclusion. The SADD club has purchased Unity bracelets with a positive message for the entire district and is encouraging all to wear the color orange to support the club’s efforts to stamp out bullying.
