Students at Uncommon Excellence Boys Middle School in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn, staged a schoolwide walkout during National Bullying Prevention Month in October to raise awareness about bullying and promote kindness, respect and accountability among young people, according to News 12 Brooklyn.
The march brought middle school students into their neighborhood with signs and chants calling for an end to bullying.
Participants included seventh-grader Jaden Holliday and fifth-grader Banks Duboius, who joined classmates in highlighting the importance of standing against discrimination and supporting students from different backgrounds.
“A lot of kids get bullied due to their race, skin tone or how they look. And I feel like we can all work as one community to go against it and make a big change,” said Holliday.
The event also honored Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old from Mississippi whose death drew national attention and prompted broader conversations about violence, accountability and support for young people. The report did not establish a direct connection between Wells' death and bullying.
The initiative also highlighted how students can work together across racial and cultural differences to encourage inclusion and challenge harmful behavior.
At Uncommon Excellence Boys Middle School, character development forms part of the school's approach to education alongside academic achievement.
Principal Jermaine Isaac emphasized the importance of having a staff that reflects the students it serves while maintaining high expectations for academics, conduct and personal growth.
The school provides opportunities for students to engage in difficult conversations while developing leadership skills and a stronger sense of responsibility.
By taking their message beyond the classroom, students demonstrated how collective action can bring attention to bullying and encourage meaningful change.
The initiative reinforces the need for continued conversations among students, educators and families to build supportive school communities where young people are treated with dignity and feel empowered to speak out against bullying.
