Immaculate Conception school has bully-buddies

FRANKLIN — Immaculate Conception School in Franklin has reinstituted a Bully Buddy program in which younger students in grades kindergarten through third grade are paired with an older student in grades four through seven.

Every morning the buddies walk together to the church for morning prayers, announcements, the Pledge of Allegiance and a patriotic song. The older students are building bonds with their younger counterparts as they counsel and provide security and stability for them in dealing with their peers and others.

To recognize anti-bullying month a group of fifth-grade students prepared posters and ribbons to present at the morning service. One student wrote an anti-bullying pledge that was recited by all the students: “I pledge to not bully; to stand up for friends, family and others; to not tease; and to always have love for one another." Then they distributed blue ribbons to be worn by all the students.