Photo submitted by BOCES.
MORRISTOWN –– October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, and an amazing superhero without a cape was in Morristown to show students and educators how they can spread HOPE (Hold On, Possibilities Exist) in their classrooms and beyond.
Pat Fish, of Sweethearts & Heroes, worked at Morristown Central School earlier this month.
Sweethearts and Heroes is a student empowerment and empathy activation team that aims to prevent bullying and suicide with a focus on the basic components of social-emotional learning (SEL). Sweethearts & Heroes offers a profound, engaging signature presentation that calls for HOPE, Empathy and Action; Circle, which is built on the ancient ritual of communicating in a circle to build empathy; and BRAVES Buddies, which trains older students in bully drills that they, in turn, teach to students in lower grades.
“We are thrilled to welcome Sweethearts and Heroes back to our District this year. We started the year with Pat Fish and his focus centered around the practice of Circles. This unique session fostered a profound sense of community, emphasizing the power of active listening, meaningful sharing, and the strength found in shared moments of vulnerability,” said Superintendent, Staci Vaughn. “The impact of this workshop has been inspiring, as it aligns seamlessly with our commitment to nurturing a positive and inclusive learning environment. I believe that creating such spaces for connection is fundamental to the well-being and success of our students and staff.”
The Sweethearts & Heroes team is Tom Murphy, Director and Founder, of St. Albans, Vt.; Ret. U.S. Army Sgt. Rick Yarosh, a HOPE expert and motivational speaker from New York who was burned severely while serving in Iraq; and Pat Fish, BRAVES and Circle Leader, who first saw Sweethearts & Heroes when he was a student in South Glens Falls.
While in Morristown, Fish concentrated on Circles with students and educators (For more on…
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