Montour, Moon Pupils to Sign Anti-Bullying Pledge at the Mall at Robinson

More than 120 children in kindergarten through second grades will meet at The Mall at Robinson Wednesday morning to sign a public pledge against bullying.

In recognition of National Bullying Prevention Month, The Mall at Robinson will host school officials and pupils from from the Moon, Montour and South Fayette school districts for the kick-off of "Malls & Retailers Unite Against Bullying," an outreach initiative in malls nationwide.

Bubba (Marc Snider) of Star 100.7 FM will be present for the morning event, which is designed to recognize and reinforce school and community efforts to eradicate bullying behavior among children.

Each school district will be provided with a S.H.A.R.K. Patrol kit--Students Help Achieve Respect and Kindness--a complimentary prevention program kit designed for grades K-2 including books, posters, puppets, a treasure chest, reward stickers, a sing-a-long CD, an interactive app and eBook download and a teacher's guide.

Participating students will sign a pledge wall in the mall's Anti-Bullying Zone, an installation that will remain on display throughout October.

The Robinson mall also will be declared a bully-free zone and guests will be encouraged to sign the anti-bully pledge.

Studies show that bullying causes social and emotional problems for children. Recent high-profile cases resulting in suicide have prompted schools to adopt strong anti-bullying policies and awareness campaigns. 

Mall & Retailers Unite against Bullying was born as an extension of an ongoing program for children, based on the lessons of Captain McFinn and Friends.  The stories revolve around the underwater inhabitants of the fictional world of Sand Dusty Reef.  Captain McFinn, their hero, is a black-tipped reef shark who used to be a bully, but has transformed into a hero, friend and protector.

The Mall at Robinson is a sponsor of CBS Radio and Star 100.7 FM’s "Shine a Light on Bullying" program that focuses on middle school children using on-air vignettes and discussions.

The Bubba Show will choose two middle schools based on established criteria for Anti-Bullying merit. Both schools will earn assemblies that train students to spot bullying and make a difference in their schools. One winning school district will earn a concert with a national performing artist sponsored by Star 100.7 FM.