News release from Fontbonne Academy

Fontbonne Academy sent eleven students to St. Agatha’s School to run an anti-bullying workshop with sixth graders on Wednesday, April 24. As part of a first-of-its-kind service day for the junior class, students led three sessions of the workshop to engaged sixth graders. The activities were all homegrown, developed by senior Cindy Troung of Quincy, who wanted to make the program interactive and fun for the students, “so they can learn without even knowing they are learning.”

Four seniors from Fontbonne’s National Honor Society and seven juniors led the groups. A poignant exercise was done with the younger students where the sixth graders drew a smiley faces on small pieces of paper and then crumbled them, demonstrating the effect of bullying. Students were asked how it made them feel and if that paper would ever be the same. To provide hope, the Fontbonne girls then crumbled up a five dollar bill and waved it around to the sixth graders. The younger students were excited that one of them might get to keep the five dollar bill, and told the Fontbonne students that even though it was crumbled it still had value–demonstrating that although someone might be bullied and hurt, they still have value and worth.

It was a lively session and the Fontbonne students commented on the event. Senior Callie Cabral of Quincy mentioned that she wanted to take part in this activity because “Fontbonne is a no-bully-zone and that there is no tolerance for it. It is such a strong and caring community, we just wanted to share that message.”

The workshops at St. Agatha’s were just one of the many activities in the first “Ducks in Service” day. The junior class volunteered at local organizations ranging from a nursing home to a food pantry to the Fontbonne Convent. Specific service sites included: Eventide Nursing Home in Quincy, St. Agatha School in Milton, Brookview House in Dorchester, Cradles 2 Crayons in Brighton, Germantown Neighborhood Center in Quincy, Casserly House in Roslindale, The Women’s Table in Brighton and the Fontbonne Convent in Milton. After beginning the day with a prayer, the teams of students dispersed to their respective locations and juniors were led by senior N.H.S. officers in service activities. They rounded the day out with reflection and sharing exercises.

Senior Julia Butts of Braintree came up with the idea for “Ducks in Service” when running for National Honor Society office. The idea was piloted this year and given its success, will likely become a fixture in the Fontbonne calendar of events. “We couldn’t be happier with the results of the first Ducks in Service Day,” said Head of School, Mary Ellen Barnes. “The day went off without a hitch and students did meaningful work throughout the area. It was their idea and they made it happen.”