Submitted photoTCCHS C2BK members (left to right) Ansley Drawdy, Ciera Zabala, Victoria Zabala and Karah Borden hang unity chains during National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month.

THOMASVILLE — Stopping bullying and promoting kindness is the mission at the heart of Thomas County Central High School Cool 2 Be Kind, or C2BK, club. 

The TCCHS chapter officially chartered through the National Association of People Against Bullying (NAPAB) on Sept. 21, 2018. NAPAB is a nonprofit organization whose advocates have made an impact around the country in schools, forums, conferences, radio broadcasts and other outlets.

“Cool 2 Be Kind is a national student-run anti-bullying club that started in San Clemente, California, after a kind student named Daniel Mendez was driven to end his life as a result of bullying,” TCCHS C2BK sponsor Mary Guy said. “Cool 2 Be Kind wants to change the culture of schools everywhere. Bullying is never cool. Everyone has a part in stopping bullying, and everyone can make a difference.”

After researching some positive anti-bullying clubs and organizations, Guy, a math teacher, found the NAPAB page and read about the Cool 2 Be Kind Club and other bullying information.

“Bullying is a huge issue that occurs in every school,” she said. “With recent school shootings and violence happening as a result of bullying, our school has been fortunate not to have such tragic and devastating occurrences. However, these acts of violence and hate are not too far from our hearts and compassion for others. Bullying hits close to home for everyone, whether we have actively experienced bullying or not.”

The C2BK mission coincides with her objectives and vision for sponsoring the TCCHS chapter, Guy continued. 

“My ultimate objective is not to only make students, parents and the community aware of bullying but to engage everyone and provide an advocacy program for students to appropriately fight against bullying as well as spread the love of being kind,” she said. 

Anti-bullying efforts can also increase school attendance, Guy said.

“Our school mission is to be ‘committed to all students graduating as productive citizens in a global society,’” she said. “For our students to be successful in being productive citizens in a global society, they must first be given the tools to become more loving and accepting of others who may be different from them. Based on statistical gatherings, NAPAB’s Cool to Be Kind Club could help improve student attendance. One of our School Improvement Plan goals is to increase attendance. According to National Voices for Equality Education and Enlightenment, ‘160,000 kids stay home from school every day due to bullying.’”

The club boasted more than 20 members in its first year. 

“I joined Cool 2 Be Kind because people don’t take bullying seriously, and I don’t stand for people getting treated unfairly,” president Kale Highsmith, 18, said.

Keyshawn Keys, 18, joined the club because he had a desire to help bullied peers. He enjoyed getting students engaged and showing them amazing ways to spread kindness.

“My favorite part is getting to interact with my club members, and everyone shares their ideas or gives feedback on someone else’s idea,” he said of club involvement.

C2BK had an active first year. From random acts of kindness to volunteering at special events to mentoring peers, club members kept busy.

One of the most significant ways the club spread its mission this school year was participation in National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month last October. Activities occurred every week. Hashtag activities included #PayItForward to show random acts of kindness, #NoOneSitsAloneTC to have students sit with others by themselves at lunch or school activities, and #Cool2BeKindShadesDayTC when students, faculty and staff could pay $1 to wear shades during the school day. Also, there were days when everyone in the school was encouraged to wear a specific color in support of bullying preventing, and members and teachers hung anti-bullying posters throughout the school and classrooms that remained throughout the year.

Member Hannah Smith, 15, stated her favorite activity was the anti-bullying unity chains made during National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month. Students throughout the school created an action plan during Teacher Academic Advisement (TAA) and made three unity links each stating how they plan to take a stand against bullying in their school and community. Club members built the chains and placed them around the school. She said they were fun to put together.

“I knew it could change someone’s day,” she said.

In November, several club members volunteered with the Special Olympics held at TCCHS. Keys enjoyed volunteering at this event.

“I learned that no matter what disability you have doesn’t make you different from anybody else,” he said.

In December, club members made and distributed Christmas cards with candy canes to the young students who participated in Shop with a Yellow Jacket. January brought the creation of the club’s Facebook page @ttchsc2bk to share inspirational messages, bring awareness to bullying, etc.  

February activities included specially designing and ordering a C2BK T-shirt, and volunteering with the annual Special Need Dance at TCCHS, which invites special education students from several area schools. C2BK participated in this month’s deeds in honor of Blue Ribbon Week, which commemorates the life and birthday of Daniel Mendez.  

In March, members sold Krispy Kreme doughnuts to fundraise for special year-end projects: buying a gift for Teacher Appreciation Week and funding its end-of-year party. In May, members hand-delivered M&M’s bags with a special message attached to all teachers, administrators, staff, janitors and bus drivers. The club also held its end-of-year party, complete with pizza, drinks, chips and cookies.

Keys’ favorite event was the end-of-year party. Club members were instructed to invite students who had either been bullied or were bullies or seemed to be isolated to attend. 

“All the students we invited had a good time, and we’ve made a big impact on the students,” he said. “Some of them are starting to be kind.”

Also, club members appreciate their sponsor’s hard work and effort to instate C2BK at TCCHS.

“She’s a great mentor to us,” Highsmith said of Guy. “I appreciate her being such a great teacher and person.”

Guy helped everyone understand the importance of bullying and impacted the way she feels about bullies, Smith adds.

C2BK is already brainstorming and planning for improvements for next school year, Guy said.

Keys has some suggestions: more free activities, more random acts of kindness, greeting students as they come inside the school each morning, and sharing a kind message of the week on the school’s morning news show, “News 4 U.”

Guy’s vision is to hold a yearly anti-bullying seminar, presentation or training session for students, teachers and staff, and to visit primary and elementary schools to speak about bullying. She also hopes the club can collaborate with News 4 U to show anti-bullying announcements and work with other school organizations to spread its mission. For example, Guy says plans are in the works to collaborate with the TCCHS Art department to create an annual anti-bullying art competition. She also hopes to work with the Georgia Pines counselors to create individual kindness items to encourage students who partake in their services.

“I am so proud of club members and students at TCCHS,” Guy said. “Many of the club members have really taken a stand and exemplified the true meaning of servant leadership. It has been a pleasure to be a sponsor of the C2BK club at TCCHS. Great things are in store for the future!

Smith believes the first year went well, and the club helped many kids open up about their bullying issues.

Keys agrees it was a successful inaugural year.

“I think our first year went great because we have students who were bullies, but now they want to join the club,” he said. “I think that’s really good for us to be doing this for our first year. We made a big impact.”

And Smith has some parting anti-bullying advice from her first year in C2BK.

“When you see something, say something,” she said. “Don’t just watch to see what happens. Bullying is not OK. It doesn’t matter who you are or how you feel about someone.”