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Performer promotes peace at middle school
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Speaker Cary Trivanovich (back left) posed with a group of Austintown Middle School students after his Sept. 22 speech.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Performer Cary Trivanovich shared his thoughts on bullying and conflict resolution by using an analogy of three chairs. He said the people he knew in school could go to one of three chairs- one for supportive, positive friends, another for those who are complacent and silent, and the last for negative bullies. Trivanovich told the students to strive to be in the chair for happy, positive people.
By SARAH FOOR
From Sept. 19 to 23, the Austintown school district worked together to find peace.
During the week of discussions on drug awareness, violence and bullying prevention, P.E.A.C.E. stood for “Pupils and Educators against Conflict Everywhere.”
The week of education was earned through the district’s Safe and Drug Free Schools organization and funded by a Ohio Department of Education grant. The grant provided a community information session on Sept. 23 focusing on resolving conflict without violence, as well as a Sept. 22 visit from speaker Cary Trivanovich at Austintown Middle School.
“The focus at AMS this week is to combat bullying,” said AMS representative Carrie Knight on Sept. 22. “Each morning, our morning announcements are tackling the issue, and tomorrow, we’ll be handing out daisies during our ‘60s day.”
During Trivanovich’s visit to the middle school, the performer, theater director, humorist, and noted pantomime mixed a few humorous demonstrations with his serious message of conflict resolution.
In a demonstration, Trivanovich places three chairs in front of himself.
“These represent the three kind of friends you’ll find at school,” explained the performer. “The first chair is friends — people that encourage you, and are positive, happy people. The middle chair, people that stand by and do not stand for anything are the ones who disappear in the background.
“The last is bullies, and people that thrive on negative energy. Choose which chair you’d like to be in. I can guarantee that you’ll have more friends than you know what to do with if you choose the first.”
Trivanovich chatted with the middle school students after his performance and encouraged students who wished to be performers themselves.
“I don’t take my job lightly. I feel truly accomplished when I am able to affect the hearts and minds of these kids,” Trivanovich shared.