Caldwell Street Public School Students Learn to be Bully Busters

(Carleton Place) – The students at Caldwell Street Public School learned to be “Bully Busters” last Thursday, when Phil Nguyen of Black Belt Excellence, a martial arts studio in Kanata, visited the school and taught students his award-winning program.

Bully Busters teaches elementary school children assertiveness, communication and martial arts skills that will help them respond to bullying and other conflicts on the schoolyard in a confident, non-physical, and peaceful way, said Nguyen.

He and his wife Amelia have mentored over 3,000 students in the area on the topic of bullying.

“You hear about terrorism in the news, but we believe that children can be terrorized by bullying too,” Nguyen said. “We want to make a difference. We want to help kids grow up with self-esteem and self-confidence.”

Teacher Donna Lowe-Ward had recently read about the program in a newspaper article. She recommended it to Principal Carole Dufort, and Dufort invited Nguyen to the school.

Nguyen spoke with groups of students in the school’s gymnasium. He discussed bullying and how it affects lives.

“How does bullying make you feel?” Nguyen asked a group of primary students.

“It hurts your heart,” said one student.

“It’s painful, especially if it’s your friends,” said another.

Nguyen then talked to students about the fact that he was bullied when he was in school.

“When I became an adult and a parent, I wanted to make a difference,” he said.

Next, Nguyen taught students about walking with confidence, using appropriate eye contact, and using an assertive stance when necessary.

According to his Web site, the Bully Busters workshop objectives are to engage children emotionally through meaningful dialogue about the issue of bullying, to teach children both verbal and non-verbal strategies to respond to bullying for self-empowerment and for building self-confidence, and to give kids the opportunity to actively practice their assertiveness and communication skills in a dynamic, positive, and safe atmosphere.

Following the primary workshop, the school presented Nguyen with a cheque for $300 to donate to the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre’s Bully Prevention Program. Dufort said the group is a non-profit organization that gives back to the community, and supports those facing difficulties.

For more information on Bully Busters, please visit http://www.blackbeltexcellence.com.

Posted: January 24, 2012