Port Jefferson Students Learn To Be Upstanders
With a powerful message to be upstanders and not bystanders, Port
Jefferson middle school and high school students took part in Sandy Hook
Promise’s national Call-to-Action Week.
Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. and two deputy sheriffs visited
the school for “Say Something,” two assemblies that provided students
with information on how they can help the school and community by being
aware of warning signs and threats, especially in social media, of
individuals who may intend harm to themselves or others and to say
something to a trusted adult to get help.
With actual quotes taken from social media accounts and video
reenactments of possible tragedies, the students learned some key skills
to prevent them. They then joined together to read aloud a pledge
projected on the screen to help create healthier schools, homes and
communities.
Deputy Sheriff Brian Butler addressed the high school students and
Deputy Sherriff Keith Hoffman addressed the middle school students and
both reiterated the fact that each student has more power to prevent
life-threatening incidents than either of them do, as many people learn
about threats via social media.
“We definitely learned that we have the power to help,” said sixth-grader Braden Snow.
The two assemblies were followed by question-and-answer sessions, an
additional way to engage the students with the importance of law
enforcement.
“This impressive assembly empowered students and reminded them of the
important role they have when it comes to school safety,” Port Jefferson
Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Neidig said.