By STEPHANIE MONTGOMERY
Contributing Writer
Third graders from the Pine Hills Elementary School had their day in the spotlight again this week for the third time in October. “Bullying’s Wrong,” an anti-bullying song performed by the third
graders at the Pine Hills Elementary and other schools in the area were featured on the WGNA Sean and Richie Show at around 8:10 a.m. on Wednesday.
Pine Hills Elementary, where 417 students are enrolled from kindergarten through fifth grade, and five other elementary schools in the region, wrote the song lyrics. Each school, including Deann Lynch’s third grade class at Pine Hills Elementary, was designated a verse to perform. This is the first year Lynch’s class is involved in the project.
“The kids loved it, and the parents were so happy they’re on the radio,” said Lynch. The students brainstormed many ideas, and collaborated with Richie Phillips to make those thoughts into a song.
“I just bring in my keyboard, use a tune that’s out there already and change the parody,” said Phillips. The radio host has been creating these songs for 20 years. “Some songs we wrote in the classroom are still used today.”
Phillips has a desire to work with children.
“I have a deep interest in writing songs with kids and trying to spread the word that there’s nothing wrong with being a responsible, kind, caring, empathetic person. You can be all of those things and still be ‘cool,’” said Phillips.
This isn’t the first song Pine Hills Elementary had broadcast on WGNA. Last month, Lynch’s class rapped in a leadership song for Phillips. Last week, the students recited the Pledge of Allegiance for the morning show as well.
Leaders at the Pine Hills Elementary encourage student leadership and emphasize those qualities in the classroom. The leadership theme plays off of the 7 Habits of Successful People by Steven Covey into the “7 Habits of Happy Children.” These seven student habits include: Be Proactive, Put First Things First, Synergize, Think Win Win, Begin With the End in Mind, Seek First to Understand then to be Understood, and Sharpen the Saw.
Phillips also partners with The Sage Colleges for the Stand Up for Character- Down for Bullying program. The program supports positive learning environments and gaining trust within schools. The program also puts on Bullying Awareness events with the schools in the area.
“Kids can’t learn if they come to school scared,” said Dr. Phillip Fusco, assistant director for the academy of character education at The Sage College. “We promote good character and positive, popular values.”
