The “Love Not Hate” Student, Parent, Staff and Community Forum on School Violence was held in the L. J. Price Middle School Media Center on March 6, 2013 from 6 – 8pm. Special guests included Donna Lowry of Channel 11, APS Board of Education member Brenda Muhammad, Assistant Chief M. A. Perdue of the APS Security and Safety office and community activists Derek Boazman and Michael Langford. The media center was packed with parents, students, staff and members of the local community to support Price Middle School in discussing steps that can be taken to curb violence in our schools.
Attendees participated in several breakout sessions on topics including bullying and harassment, communication between school, community and parents, parental involvement and promoting peace and non-violence. The breakout sessions were led by Price Staff and Community members. The groups discussed their topics and shared with the whole group.
Refreshments and prizes were provided by various Price Business partners. Members of the Young Kings and Queens, a group sponsored by Ms. C. Patterson 8th grade Social Studies, performed for the audience.
The forum was coordinated and developed between Ms. Dama Riles Parent Engagement Specialist for the South Region, Ms. Shari Johnson Price Middle School Parent Liaison and Graduation Coach Ms. Selina Coleman. The forum was in response to the school violence incident that occurred at Price Middle School on January 31st. After the incident, students and staff were offered large group and individual counseling sessions with the APS Crisis Team but they believed more was needed to be done to discuss the problem of violence and create solutions. During the event, community members from Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Macedonia Baptist Church and Derek Boazman, the APS Board of Education and Channel 11 reinforced their ongoing commitment to the Price Wildcat Family. The theme of the evening was “No Violence, Know Peace” and the goal was to get everyone together to help make Price Middle School a safe and violent free place for learning.
written by Tammy Rosado, Media Specialist at Price Middle School
