Category Archives: school assemblies

Weekly Character Education Pays off in Waterloo Region School

Students at Edna Staebler Public School in Waterloo (Waterloo Region District School Board) believe in the value of Character Education. We visited the school yesterday, and were greeted warmly by the students and staff. Principal, Mr. Jeffery Parliament told us that the students have been receiving weekly character education lessons from a staff member. We could tell.

Edna Staebler Picture at Edna Staebler School

“Treat others how you want to be treated,” was a comment that came from a student early on in one of the assemblies. We talked about empathy, and about doing the right thing even when no one is watching.
“Being honest and caring can help build stronger friendships”, a grade 7 student remarked.
We talked about being careful on-line and making the right choices about on-line activities.
A student role-play made it crystal-clear that a bystander can become a person who can definitely make a difference in a given situation.

Author Edna Staebler with her cats

Mr. Parliament said he felt the assemblies were well done and liked how we changed the assemblies to be appropriate for each division.
“Our character education classes have been some of our most important classes”, a grade 8 girl told me after the intermediate assembly.
I thought about how good it feels to be in a school where character education is taken seriously by students and staff!

Flags in the lobby of Edna Staebler School

The ‘Stand Up For Respect’ Character Ed assemblies by Stand Up Now Productions all feature video, music and student role-play as well as teacher follow-up materials.
Visit www.standupforrespect.ca

Pink Shirt Stop Bullying Day at Alloa School in Brampton

1 Comment

Stand Up Against Bullying Day at Alloa School

It was a sea of pink at Alloa Public School in Brampton today as Bruce Langford presented Stand Up Against Bullying Assemblies to the students. Pink shirts, pink bracelets, pink hair, pink socks, pink sweaters hats and pants all helped get the point across to Stand Up Against Bullying. Role-plays about how bystanders can change to make a difference helped the students realize that even ONE PERSON can help to reduce bullying. That ONE PERSON can be YOU. Principal, Mrs. Margret Lane is passionate about helping all Alloa students understand how to deal with bullying and how to help stop it. Yes, ONE PERSON CAN help reduce bullying and that ONE PERSON can be YOU!
Contact Bruce Langford of Stand Up Now Productions to present assemblies at your school on bullying, respect or cyberbullying. 1-800-901-8831 or visit the website at www.standupnow.ca

Building respect assembly in Waterloo Region District Schools

Leave a comment

Building a better world, one student at a time.
This is the slogan at New Dundee Public School near Kitchener, Ontario.
These students really understand RESPECT. They work on these things every day:

Friendly language
New Dundee Dragon
Including others
Cooperation
Helping each other
Being polite

New Dundee Principal, Mrs. Debbie Scholl makes sure the students are thinking about respect. She has made sure the walls are covered with positive messages and character-building reminders. See for yourself. Even the New Dundee Dragon mascot is a respectful fellow! Here are just a few of the positive messages we saw here at New Dundee Public School.

Mrs. Scholl was totally enthusiastic about the ‘Stand Up For Respect’ assemblies.
“You really made respect come alive to our children!”, she exclaimed. “We were completely delighted!”
Mrs. Deb Scholl, Principal, New Dundee Public School

Intermediate Respect Assemblies a Hit with Windsor School Students

Leave a comment

Bullying Prevention at Marlborough PS

Positive remarks from Grade 7 and 8 Marlborough Public School students flowed after the assembly there earlier today.
“I really liked the videos and the songs!” (Grade 7 student)
“You got me thinking about how I treat other people. I will treat my brother better from now on.” (Grade 8 student)
“When can you come back to Marlborough?” (Grade 8 student)

The students got me thinking too. If I can feel so appreciated at Marlborough Public School, what are they doing under that roof that I can learn from?
Number one, I believe that Marlborough principal, Jessica Reimers treats her staff and students with respect. That came through to me as a visitor there.
Number two, I believe the teachers treat the students with respect. Extra-curricular activities mean a lot to the students and they are proud to participate. Students talked about the great sports opportunities they have at Marlborough and they talked about the music program. An example is the Drum Line band led by music teacher, Mr. Tim Beneteau. The students admire and respect him. They talked about him from the time I met the first students in the morning.
This brings me to a tip to help improve your own school climate.
Get involved in some extra-curricular activity. Whether you are a student, a teacher, or a support person in the school, extra-curricular activities can really boost the school morale and help everyone feel of value. It can build confidence and school spirit too!

GECDSB Logo

Following the ‘Stand Up For Respect’ presentation, one of the comments we received was:
“Bruce Langford’s assembly grabbed the students’ attention in an instant. Really great program!”
Mr. Tim Beneteau, Music Teacher.

It was great being visitors in a school where the feeling of respect can be felt from both students and staff. Keep up that great community spirit, Marlborough Mariners!

Bullying Tips for Kids in Toronto School with DJ Benny DL

Leave a comment

Benny DL rocked the house in Toronto today with cool songs and bullying tips for kids as he went on the air live at Lynngate Public School in Toronto (Scarborough). Staff and students gave the ‘Stand Up For Respect’ shows two thumbs up as Bruce Langford (aka Benny DL) gave out prizes, showed videos, and featured role-plays by Lynngate’s own students.
Lynngate really believes in living respect and growing character. That is proven when you meet the children and glance around the halls.

This poem spotted on the wall is only one of the signs of proof:

Watch your thoughts;
they become words.
Watch your words;
they become actions.
Watch your actions;
they become habits.
Watch your habits;
they become character;
Watch your character;
it becomes your destiny.
Frank Outlaw

Lynngate School Principal, Ms. Diane Kriksciunas, remarked that the assemblies were ‘simply excellent’ after watching her students interact with presenter Bruce Langford of Stand Up Now Productions.
Here are three tips to help you deal with bullying in your life:
1. In some cases, ignore the bullying. The bully is often trying to test you to see if you will lose your cool. Don’t lose your cool!
2. Tell a parent, teacher or other adult if you feel you are being bullied. If you get no help, talk to someone else or ask the original person again. Call Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868) if you have no one else to talk to.
3. Try to keep acting and looking confident. Don’t let the bullying think he or she is winning.

Contact Bruce Langford at 1-800-901-8831 or by emailing through the website: www.standupnow.ca

National Gallery of Canada Inspires Creative Ways to Stop Bullying

Leave a comment

Artists get bullied more than the rest of the population.

National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa

Do you believe the above statement? Some people do. Artists think outside the box. They are unique. They have a creative side that much of society doesn’t understand. Go to the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa like we did today and we think you will agree that we must encourage creativity. It is people with creativity who create everything from new inventions to games to entertaining movies &

National Gallery Looking Up

books. Creative people are inspired by that which is artistic. We would be lost in this world without those people who are able to create.
So we must stand up against bullying of creative and artistic people. How to stand up against bullying?
1. Don’t just look the other way, do something.
2. Speak up for the person.
3. Talk to them later with encouraging words.
4. Let people know you don’t agree with bullying.
5. Be a role model who will inspire others.
6. Live your life as a positive example for people to see.

Stand Up Now Productions (Bruce Langford) visited St. Anne Catholic School

St. Anne Catholic School, Kanata

in Kanata (Ottawa) today to teach children how to stand up against bullying.
Principal, Mrs. Jane Hill of St. Anne School spoke highly of the Stand Up Against Bullying assemblies and will recommend Stand Up Now to other schools.
Arrange ‘Stand Up Now’ Programs to take place at your school. Visit the website at: http://www.standupnow.ca</object

Halton Catholic Character Education Assemblies about Respect (Ontario, Canada)

Leave a comment

St. Bernadette Catholic School

“We only have one rule here. The rule is … everybody say it! … RESPECT.”
These words were from principal, Mrs. Ann Koritko as she spoke to the grade 4,5,6 students in the gym of St. Bernadette Catholic School in Oakville earlier today.
The feeling of respect was everywhere; from the front office where head secretary, Diane, made us feel at home, to the tiny chapel where children or teachers are sometimes found in prayer.
We shared many ways of showing respect with the students. Shining through from the children was the evidence of their faith. “Our faith helps us understand why respect is important,” one grade four student told me.
“Just remember the many different ways you can stand up for respect”, I told the children.
When presented in Catholic or Christian schools, our ‘Stand Up For Respect’ and ‘Stand Up Against Bullying’ programs talk about the importance of faith and prayer.

Here is a comment we received following the assemblies:
“Very original, unique presentations with a strong message for all to hear. I loved how you tied our faith into it.”
Christine Ricci, Educational Assistant, St. Bernadette Catholic School, Oakville, Ontario.
Book Stand Up Now Assemblies or arrange a keynote talk with speaker/presenter Bruce Langford by contacting Stand Up Now Productions at or 1-800-901-8831

Stop Bullying Now in Toronto, Ontario Canada

Leave a comment

William Berczy Public School, Toronto

Why Does An Imbalance of Power Cause Bullying?
That was one of the questions we set out to help the children answer at William Berczy Public School in Unionville (Toronto) yesterday.

Bullying takes place when an imbalance of power exists between people, and the person or people with the most power, use that power to create discomfort or harm to the target person.

Respect at William Berczy

Bullying becomes less common when children are taught to show respect to each other. Specifically, be honest, use kind language and be nice to others, even on the internet or cell phone.

A Berczy Person Shows Respect!
That is the first sentence we read as we walked into William Berczy Public School in Unionville. Very quickly we found that sign to be true about ‘Berczy People’.
They do show respect. And they were eager to learn more about how they could reduce bullying and increase respect within their school.

After three daytime student assemblies, parents and children returned in droves to learn more from DJ, Benny DL (aka Bruce Langford). More than 70 families received free CD’s from the Stand Up Now team.

One of the parents had this to say following the parent/student anti-bullying presentation called ‘Stand Up – Keep Your Kids’:
“The Stand Up Now program was wonderful. I think that all children will benefit from watching the show. It grabbed their attention, was very entertaining, and yet was filled with important information for all of us.”
David L. Tenn, Parent and School Council Member, William Berczy Public School
Visit the ‘Stand Up Now’ website at www.standupnow.ca to arrange programs for your school.

Waterloo Region District School Board Bullying Prevention

Leave a comment

Abraham Erb Public School in Waterloo welcomed Bruce Langford today as a guest speaker and presenter on the subject of respect. Respect is part of Abraham Erb’s Code of Behaviour. Their code of behavior is simple, yet effective. It consists of three concise ideas:
THINK

RESPECT

BE SAFE

Mrs. Martha Knowlton, the Principal of Abraham Erb School (Waterloo Region District School Board), was thrilled with the ‘Stand Up For Respect’ assemblies by Bruce Langford and Stand Up Now Productions. We were impressed with the respectful behaviour of the students.
We’ve included some photos we want to share with you from Abraham Erb Public School.

Bully Free at MCB

Leave a comment

A Gym Wall Message at Mount Carmel-Blytheswood School

What is MCB? It is Mount Carmel-Blytheswood Public School in Leamington in the Greater Essex County District School Board.
‘Awesome’ was the word to describe the reception we experienced at Mount Carmel-Blytheswood yesterday. The ‘Stand Up Against Bullying’ theme song was playing through the halls. The children could hardly wait for the assemblies to start. Principal, Mr. Kris Marentette was pleased with the student assemblies and parent night and said he would pass that on to others in GECDSB.
The students and staff shared positive comments about the student assemblies and the parent night presentation which included songs, a student skit, information, prizes and interaction with the children. Click on the video to hear a story that Bruce Langford shared with parents and children at the ‘Stand Up – Keep Your Kids’ parent night.
Arrange to have ‘Stand Up Now’ Assemblies at your school with Presenter, Bruce Langford. Visit us at: www.standupnow.ca