Bullying prevention contest expands to elementary art

April 18, 2019 | Erica Gilbertson | Permalink | Outreach, Schools and Administrators, Service and Community

The Office of School Engagement has coordinated a bullying prevention essay contest with the Clarke County School District's secondary schools for four consecutive years. This fall the contest expanded to include Winning artwork elementary students' artwork that illustrated the concept of bullying prevention. Chasity James, a doctoral student in the department of educational theory and practice, and Dan Smith, Clarke County's curriculum coordinator for fine arts and physical education, administered and judged the contest.

At the end of last semester, five students were honored at their schools for their outstanding artwork. The schools received the students' framed original artwork to display, and the students received certificates and journals with their artwork printed on the covers.

The program began in 2015 when Jasia Clark, then a senior at Clarke Central High School, envisioned the bullying prevention essay contest. Katherine Raczynski, a districtwide professor-in-residence for school climate at that time, worked closely with Clark to organize, launch and manage the contest. Clarke County students have written 242 essays over the years. The 2019 essay contest winners had not been announced as of press time.

Contest Winners

Timothy Road Elementary: Anna Meehan (Kindergarten) and Kavya Sinhmar (first grade)
Chase Street Elementary: Kenyah Wise (fifth grade)
H. B. Stroud Elementary: Eric Ryan Willis Jr. (third grade) and Tayshawn Richardson (fifth grade)