The Percy Project is a program that teaches children important pro-social skills such as learning to appreciate yourself and othersThe goal is to put agressive behaior “in check!”. Participating Ohio schools are Darbydale Elementary School, Finland Middle School, Springcreek Primary School, Russelville Elementary School and Ridgemont Elementary School. Here are some articles from The Piqua Call and the Kenton Times covering The Percy Program launch!
KENTON TIMES MOUNT VICTORY — Children’s book author Rick Rieser launched an anti-bullying campaign Wednesday at Ridgemont Elementary that he will take to elementary schools all across Ohio.
“This is the start of something special and every one of you get to be a part of a special year,” Rieser told the 49 Ridgemont fourth graders. “Each of you is very, very valuable and very important.”
Rieser created a children’s book about a chicken named Percy that didn’t look like the other chickens in the coop, to help aid in the message. Percy is picked on by the other chickens because he is different, but Rieser wanted each of the children to know that it is OK to be different.
“Percy is valuable because he is different,” Rieser said.
The author told the students that in order to accept and respect other people, they first had to accept themselves and everything that makes them different from their classmates.
“This year we don’t want people to be pecking at each other. We don’t want to call them names or talk behind their backs,” Rieser said.
When teachers find the students respecting someone else, they will receive a Percy’s Positive Award. After so many awards, children will receive prizes.
“Right now, you are all the most powerful people in the world,” Rieser said. “You’re going to complete a service learning project so you can change other people’s world, too.”
Rieser, who has a background in children’s mental health, hopes that his book, and the program, will help children grow into more understanding teenagers and adults who have a higher appreciation for themselves and everyone else.
“Bullying is a national issue, and we can make a difference and reduce bullying in the classroom,” he said.
Rieser brought in his Red Phoenix Rooster, Percy, who inspired the book, and two other chickens that don’t look like the average bird. The children laughed when Percy crowed throughout the assembly, and Rieser joked that, “we planned that crow.”
Fourth grade student Journee Roeder learned valuable lessons from Rieser’s book and program.
“You don’t judge something by its cover because everybody has differences,” she said. “You shouldn’t make fun of people because it’s not nice and you wouldn’t want them to do that to you, so you shouldn’t do it to them.”
Fellow classmate KiNell Stahler also took something away from the program.
“You can’t judge anybody, or even chickens, because they may be hiding that they’re different,” Stahler said.
As part of the program the fourth grade students will also be completing a to-be-determined service learning project within the community.
Kara Ross, fourth grade teacher and building representative for service learning projects, is incorporating and encouraging community partnerships for the program.
“We hope it will provide the kids with incentives and resources to accomplish the service learning project,” Ross said.
Those interested in forming a partnership with Ridgemont Schools can contact Ross at (937) 354-2141 By LAUREN ROBERTS, Times intern |
PIQUA DAILY CALL By Mike Ullery
Chief Photographer PIQUA – On Thursday, Springcreek School was the site for the launch of a statewide campaign to curb school bullying.The school was selected as one of seven sites statewide to partner with Percy Learning Farms for the Learn and Serve Program. The goal of the program is to stop bullying in Ohio elementary schools.The Percy Learning Farms program is unique in that it begins early to teach students basic skills, such appreciating themselves and others. The goal of the program is that increased appreciation will have a direct impact on negative student behavior.”School results will be measured and monitored. The ultimate goal is to reduce bullying incidents by half.Rieser brought his message to Springcreek students, along with a trio of chickens. As Rieser stood in front of students telling them, “I understand that I am different. It is OK to be different, ” he read to them the book about Percy, a chicken who is different from other chickens in the barnyard. Percy soon learned that his differences were his strengths and that other chickens in the barnyard also were different, but it makes no difference.After reading the book, students were introduced to the real-life Percy, who delighted his audience with his frequent crowing.The underlying message of the Percy system is “don’t peck on each other,” said Rieser. He also noted that a school’s investment in the program is “not that big compared to damage caused by bullying.”Jones-Ward stressed that service learning is a most important part in the education of Ohio students. She described service learning as a lesson taught in the classroom that students take home and teach to others. Those lessons and behavior are then integrated into the community.”The Percy Project dovetails nicely with service learning,” said Jones-Ward, who described Piqua as “a very special school that will embrace the program.”
Rieser told students and faculty, “Springcreek School is going to change the world. It is going to start here.”
After watching the program, Springcreek Principal Molly Hay said, “it is a good beginning to what we hope to instill in kids during the school year.” Hay hopes that the assembly “set the tone” for students.
The school hopes to enter into community partnerships to increase the prospects of the program’s success. For more information on the program, contact Hay at 773-6540. You can learn more about Percy Learning Farms by visiting www.percylearningfarms.com.
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