nssw

About National Safe Schools Week

The week of October 18-24, 2009 is National Safe Schools Week (NSSW). According to the Centers for Disease Control, over 1 million students across America take a weapon to school each month, and over 1.3 million students are injured or threatened with a weapon each year.

National Safe Schools Week provides an opportunity to empower students to keep their schools safe by encouraging them to speak up against school violence.

National Student Design Project

We had such a great time reading and viewing everyone's submissions. There are extremely talented students throughout the nation who so beautifully write and portray their feelings about school violence. We want to thank everyone for their submissions and congratulate our recognized students:

RECOGNIZED STUDENT FOR T-SHIRT ARTWORK: Alexis T., 6th grader from Mrs. Epps's Class at G.C. Hawley Middle School (Creedmoor, NC).

Alexis's t-shirt design is currently with our creative designer. She is incorporating the design to be made into a t-shirt for all of Alexis's class to receive. Congratulations again!

RECOGNIZED AUTHOR FOR LITERARY WORK: Amanda D., 11th Grader from Las Plumas High School (Oroville, CA).

SCHOOL VIOLENCE

When we walk down the halls
We see angry kids punching walls,
Some just smile while others frown
I just walk on holding my head down.

You go to the same table
With our usual friends and some old label,
Either you're cool or not
You’re called a nerd if you know a lot.

If they don’t fit in
They revert to paper and pen,
They write out their sadness
Till they hit someone in madness.

This is our fear,
Others get hurt from the rumors they hear,
Bullies’ make fun of her or him
While I try to stand up for both of them.

This is our everyday fight
To be safe and do what’s right,
Our school’s safety is what keeps us here
And our school’s staff, tell us not to fear.

Without the safety in schools
And having to obey the rules,
We would all end up fearing the worst
Wondering who would get hurt first.

Students want to feel protected
With the outbursts of others, many are affected,
Some walk the halls hoping for the best
While others hide from the rest.

Some students are afraid to walk alone,
Some are afraid to walk home,
They pretend not to be
Hiding their fear so know one else will see.

This is our everyday war
Wondering if in school here can be more,
Maybe if we work together
We can make our community better.

Thank you for your time
And for reading this sad little rhyme,
I hope you understand
It’s true and we students could use a hand.

T-SHIRT SUBMISSION FINALISTS

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The National Student Design Project is intended to get middle and high school students thinking about the safety of their schools and communities. Click here for an overview of the project.

HOW TO ENTER

High Schoolers: students can submit a poem, story, song, or rap that expresses their thoughts on school violence and safety. Any form of writing is accepted. Submissions can be fictitious or factual, and are meant to encourage kids to speak up against school violence. Click here for a high school student handout.

Middle Schoolers: students can design a T-shirt that includes the SPEAK UP hotline (1-866-SPEAK-UP) and website (www.speakup.com). The T-shirt can depict a symbol, pattern or simple image that is eye-catching), and contains a message promoting safety. A handout with a blank t-shirt template and some tips about designing T-shirts can be found here. Please click here for a middle school student handout.

Please email all submissions to: speakup@paxusa.org or mail to:

STUDENT DESIGN PROJECT
PAX / Real Solutions to Gun Violence
100 Wall Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10005

RECOGNITION

All students who submit an entry will receive a prize.

T-shirts with the most outstanding design will be printed and distributed to the designer’s class. One author will be recognized for their literary work with an iPod shuffle. Both of the student’s schools will also receive a School Safety Package (a $2,500 value).

DEADLINE
Mail or email submissions by Friday, October 16, and the top entries will be announced on Friday, October 23.

Please email speakup@paxusa.org to share your plans for the project and Safe Schools Week, exchange ideas and receive promotional materials.



	About National Safe Schools Week The week of October 18-24, 2009 is National Safe Schools Week (NSSW). According to the Centers for Disease Control, over 1 million students across America take a weapon to school each month, and over 1.3 million students are injured or threatened with a weapon each year. National Safe Schools Week provides an opportunity to empower students to keep their schools safe by encouraging them to speak up against school violence. National Student Design Project We had such a great time reading and viewing everyone's submissions. There are extremely talented students throughout the nation who so beautifully write and portray their feelings about school violence. We want to thank everyone for their submissions and congratulate our recognized students: RECOGNIZED STUDENT FOR T-SHIRT ARTWORK: Alexis T., 6th grader from Mrs. Epps's Class at G.C. Hawley Middle School (Creedmoor, NC). Alexis's t-shirt design is currently with our creative designer. She is incorporating the design to be made into a t-shirt for all of Alexis's class to receive. Congratulations again! RECOGNIZED AUTHOR FOR LITERARY WORK: Amanda D., 11th Grader from Las Plumas High School (Oroville, CA). SCHOOL VIOLENCE When we walk down the halls We see angry kids punching walls, Some just smile while others frown I just walk on holding my head down. You go to the same table With our usual friends and some old label, Either you're cool or not You’re called a nerd if you know a lot. If they don’t fit in They revert to paper and pen, They write out their sadness Till they hit someone in madness. This is our fear, Others get hurt from the rumors they hear, Bullies’ make fun of her or him While I try to stand up for both of them. This is our everyday fight To be safe and do what’s right, Our school’s safety is what keeps us here And our school’s staff, tell us not to fear. Without the safety in schools And having to obey the rules, We would all end up fearing the worst Wondering who would get hurt first. Students want to feel protected With the outbursts of others, many are affected, Some walk the halls hoping for the best While others hide from the rest. Some students are afraid to walk alone, Some are afraid to walk home, They pretend not to be Hiding their fear so know one else will see. This is our everyday war Wondering if in school here can be more, Maybe if we work together We can make our community better. Thank you for your time And for reading this sad little rhyme, I hope you understand It’s true and we students could use a hand. T-SHIRT SUBMISSION FINALISTS ABOUT THE PROJECT The National Student Design Project is intended to get middle and high school students thinking about the safety of their schools and communities. Click here for an overview of the project. HOW TO ENTER High Schoolers: students can submit a poem, story, song, or rap that expresses their thoughts on school violence and safety. Any form of writing is accepted. Submissions can be fictitious or factual, and are meant to encourage kids to speak up against school violence. Click here for a high school student handout. Middle Schoolers: students can design a T-shirt that includes the SPEAK UP hotline (1-866-SPEAK-UP) and website (www.speakup.com). The T-shirt can depict a symbol, pattern or simple image that is eye-catching), and contains a message promoting safety. A handout with a blank t-shirt template and some tips about designing T-shirts can be found here. Please click here for a middle school student handout. Please email all submissions to: speakup@paxusa.org or mail to: STUDENT DESIGN PROJECT PAX / Real Solutions to Gun Violence 100 Wall Street, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10005 RECOGNITION All students who submit an entry will receive a prize. T-shirts with the most outstanding design will be printed and distributed to the designer’s class. One author will be recognized for their literary work with an iPod shuffle. Both of the student’s schools will also receive a School Safety Package (a $2,500 value). DEADLINE Mail or email submissions by Friday, October 16, and the top entries will be announced on Friday, October 23. Please email speakup@paxusa.org to share your plans for the project and Safe Schools Week, exchange ideas and receive promotional materials.