White-Out Against Bullying

At Watchung Hills Regional High School, March 4-8 was designated as White-Out Against Bullying Week - "Wear White to Unite Against Bullying". White out being that office product we all know and love that is used to wipe out mistakes and eliminate errors allowing us to begin anew.

The pledge banner that student's signed for White Out anti-bullying week.

The high school started the White Out Against Bullying program as a movement/effort/initiative to wipe out, eliminate practices that demean, embarrass, belittle or hurt others.



The four day event ended on the 8th where students and teachers were encouraged to wear white to show their support and to symbolize their commitment to speak up, stand up and stop hate.




The White Out week had a variety of festivities going on, including:

• A kick-off presentation by Jon Bramnick, Assemblyman from New Jersey’s 21st District since 2003 and presently minority leader, who cited examples of bullying, even in the Legislature, on the Internet and in day-to-day confrontations.

• A video, “Not in Our Schools,” a professionally made bullying film that features Watchung Hills students in a classroom lesson. The film has become the foundation for a bullying curriculum used in schools across the nation.

• A presentation by Sgt. Thomas Rich, founder of Always Connected, whose field of expertise is cyber-bullying. A certified police officer, he understands well the trends, real life problems and solutions for schools, parents and students tied to cyberbullying.

• “Ryan’s Story,” a touching history of a boy’s suicide at age 13, told by his father, John Ryan. A powerful presentation about the devastating impact of bullying on a family and community, the film has been viewed by millions of viewers on several television shows.

• “The Bully Project,” a 90-minute feature film that “demonstrates the pained and often endangered lives of bullied youths,” and documents how bullying is handled in society as a whole.

• Somerset County Sheriff Frank Provenzano and Officer Ahmed Mackey spoke about the importance of being an “upstander” instead of a bystander.


Students also made t-shirts, anti-bullying stickers were handed out, and pledge banners were signed. White ribbons were tied around trees to alert passers-by to the community’s pledge to promote unity.



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