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Trenton vs. Bully

2011-04-29T08:07:00.000-07:00

By: Skylar Mabe

Trenton McCann, an 8-year-old, at Colfax elementary school weighs over 120 pounds, but his shape was the last thing I noticed when he and his mother met me at Barnes & Noble. He was shy but his bright brown eyes told me a story as he grinned and wiped melted chocolate from his cheeks.

Part I:

The Struggle

Prior to giving birth to Trenton, Lori McCann had two miscarriages, Noah and Michaela. Trenton was born nine weeks early and had growth hormones injected directly after birth to mature his lungs and insure his survival.

The hormones used at birth have carried over to affect his height and weight today. The average 8-year-old weighs 55-60 pounds; Trenton weighs twice that.

“The majority of his bullying is because of his weight, being a grade behind and [being] taller and bigger than his classmates…but you’ll see with him that he’ll get really really chunky and then he’ll get tall. So he proportions himself out.” said Lori.

One of Trenton’s more memorable altercations with a bully began during a routine bathroom break, a place that should be out of harm's way. Trenton was standing in line with his friends, when the bully stood in front of the bathroom door, making it impossible for Trenton to enter. The bully told Trenton the only way he could go to the bathroom was by squeezing through the tight space the bully provided.

“I tried to make it in,” said Trenton. “[The bully] said, ‘you can’t do it because you’re way too big’.”

To Lori, these words seemed all too familiar. When Lori was a child, her grandmother offered her $10 for every pound she lost.

“People are going to say things, yes they’re going to be cruel but you have to grow up with a thick skin and just let it roll off your back…I try to tell [Trenton] to ignore it and walk away, but if someone throws the first punch, retaliate.” said Lori.

Part II:

What the world thinks of Bullies
and those who’ve been Bullied

According to Liz Lucas, Counselor at Colfax Elementary, the definition of bullying has become too broad. To her, Bullying is being repeatedly threatened in some way, be it physically, mentally or emotionally.

Most professionals agree that bullying is learned behavior, meaning children are taught to be bullies before they bully another child.

“The children I’ve worked with have all witnessed some kind of bullying at home or in a place they visit everyday.” said Lucas.

Mary Taylor, Director of Children’s ministries at Hillsdale United Methodist, believes there are three ways a child can go once they’ve been bullied- They become a bully themselves; they become a victim of bullying because they are too afraid to stand up for themselves; or they learn from the experience and treat others with kindness, the kindness they weren’t given.

Trenton may or may not fall into one of these categories, only time will tell, but today he is battling the bullies the best way he can, with his parents, teachers and coaches help.

Part III:

How Trenton is giving the Bully

a little less to poke fun at

Trenton hasn’t had an opportunity to retaliate against a bully, but he has stood up for another child on his school bus and with his parents help, he’s trying to become healthier in order to avoid future bullies.

When Trenton was 4-years-old his father became very sick and their family lost their house. Lori didn’t have the money to fund any extracurricular activities for Trenton.

“I told my husband I don’t care what we do... [Trenton] is going to play something. We exhausted all avenues just for him to get that opportunity to be able to play [a sport].” said Lori,

This year was Trenton’s first year taking part in a sport. He plays basketball and baseball and will begin football soon.

“It’s really built his confidence up,” said Lori.

Trenton’s favorite sport is basketball because he can control the ball more than baseball.

“It’s easier because I can…um throw the ball higher. And in baseball you can’t dribble it because it has this rock in it and it’s a little bit bouncy but the basketball has air in it and it’s a lot bouncy,” said Trenton.

Trenton’s team won the championship in basketball this year. He asked his coach if they could teach the kids with the “special faces” how to play basketball.

“He has a very tender heart,” said Lori.

Trenton plays baseball for the black sox as a catcher and an outfielder. The black sox won a championship a year ago and Trenton hopes that he can help keep that title.

Learn How to Stop Bullying

What should you do if youve been bullied?

Is your child a bully? Take the quiz

Interact club raises money for clean water

2011-04-08T07:20:00.000-07:00

    By:Skylar Mabe

       The interact club at Western Guilford High School, home of the yellow jackets, is buzzing a tune many around the world can understand.
       According to http://www.rotary.org/, Interact is Rotary International’s service club for young people ages 12 to 18. Interact clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary clubs, which provide support and guidance, but they are self-governing and self-supporting.
       Almost 200,000 young people in 109 countries are involved in Interact.
       The Rotary club of Guilford county was asked to support one high school interact club and WGHS was chosen.
       Each year the Interact club at WGHS completes two community service projects, one local and one international. This year, with the help of president, Matt Bouton and secretary, Claire Basitsa, the interact club has chosen to support the Blood: water mission which helps African villages get clean water wells. The students were asked to find five sponsors who were able to donate $1 a day for 21 days. If the students succeeded in finding sponsors, they could raise a total of $105.
        Students were asked to drink only water for the month of March. Rotary member Ron Pierce said he asked the students to give up their soft drinks and juice because he wanted the students to realize what the people in Africa were going through.
       “Some people in Africa don’t even have water much less clean water. Once the kids knew what it was like to only have water for a month it motivated them to raise more money,” said Pierce.
       Most students were able to make it the whole month with water alone but some were only able to make it a few days without the sweet drinks they’re used to.
       Interact member, Makayla Tencer, who raised a total of $325, a club record, invoked the help of her family to complete her challenge.
     “It was really hard, I was addicted to coffee so I told my friends and familiy to stop me whenever I started thinking about drinking anything but water,” said Tencer. “I had headaches for the first week but eventually they went away.”
      In support of the students, Rotary member Pierce and Jennifer Austin, the teacher who conducts the club meetings also went a month on water only.
     “I can't tell you how many Starbucks I passed and I thought, man this just ain’t right. And I don’t even drink coffee that often,” said Pierce.
       At their celebration meeting, Pierce and Austin provided students with pizza, and yes, soft drinks; however, some students skipped the sweet soda and headed straight to the water bottles.
       "Now that I've started drinking water so often my body wants more of it. Why stop a good thing?" said Basitsa.
       WGHS has until the end of May to complete their goal of $750 towards putting water wells in Africa. With a month to go, the club has raised well over $500.

County Science Fair Causes Reaction

2011-02-11T09:02:00.000-08:00

Not all Smiles at the County Science fair
By:Skylar Mabe

For 6-year-old Lindsey it was a no-brainer that she would win first place at the Guilford County School science fair. She won first place at Lindley Elementary School, therefore a trophy at the county level is a given, right? Wrong.

Lindsey wasn’t the only disappointed student at Four Seasons Town Centre, Feb. 2.

Lindsey in father's arms after her loss

There were crying children, pouting children, and even screaming children after the first awards ceremony at 5:45. With over 50 kindergarten through second graders entering the county science fair, only four students could claim the “winner” title, and seven held on to their honorable mention trophies.

With Age comes Wisdom

Allie, a 5th grader at Nathanael Greene Elementary School, also received a participation ribbon, the reward they were handing out for students who didn’t win a blue ribbon or honorable mention, her response was slightly more optimistic of others.

“As long as I get out of school, yeah [I’d enter the science fair again],” said Allie.

The students who won honorable mention were called up in groups of ten, and then asked to pose for a photo opportunity. The third through fifth graders handled their lack of success a bit more gracefully. There were no tears, no stomping of feet and no temper tantrums.

3-5th grader participation winners

Allie smiled for the camera, while mom and dad congratulated and cheered her on. She returned to her seat with her best friend from Nathanael Greene Elm, head held high.

Glory Days

A sea of frowns and disheartened faces was not all that Four Seasons Town Centre was offering for its on lookers. Some smiles and optimism shined through on Feb. 2.

Benjamin, a fourth grader at Colfax Elementary, is running through the motions of his third county science fair. A seasoned veteran at these competitions, he knew what the judges were looking for and he gave it to them. Benjamin won first-place for his project titled “I Need a Cool Drink.” Although he was happy with his earnings, he didn’t qualify to move on to the regional competition.

To learn more about the GCS Science Fair Qualifications: Events and Competitions
For ideas on your next science fair project: Science Buddies
Regional Science Fair schedule and information
National Science Fair information