Go, Dogs, Go!

 

This morning our students had the opportunity to hear a short presentation from three Niagara Ice Dogs (Brendan Perlini, Aaron Haydon, Alex Nedeljkovic). The players, along with the Ice Dogs Community Liaison, Nino Bourikas, conducted an anti-bullying assembly with theme, "Just Stop It!". The Ice Dogs did a nice job explaining the three roles that are played in any sort of bullying situation, that is, the bully, the victim, and the bystander(s). They also stressed the importance of standing up against bullying, be it physical contact, or words said or written, or general behaviours.

Most interesting was that the Golden Rule was mentioned more than once - Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.

As a community, it is important that we acknowledge that bullying behaviours exist. They exist in us. They exist in our kids. It is important to acknowledge that we can find ourselves in any of the three roles (bully, bystander, victim), and to consider how we can best respond when we are seeing bullying, when we are being bullied, and when we are being bullies.

Matthew 18 (especially verses 15-17) provides some great teachings regarding how we are to relate to each other, and how we need to constantly be teaching our children to relate to each other. Speaking to each other with grace, truth, and love is essential for the Christian life.

It is also worth noting that the Ice Dogs did come to play some ball hockey versus students that have joined the Beacon Hockey team. The Ice Dogs were overwhelmed with the talent (and the number) of our hockey players! A few tea

chers also had a short game versus the Ice Dogs, and despite Mr. T.'s heroics, came up a little short.