EAST LONGMEADOW –  Though the winter months can be dull, Birchland Park Middle School in East Longmeadow has been keeping up excitement and school spirit over the last two weeks.  Not only has the school participated in “No Name Calling Week,” but they’ve created a spirit week of their own: “Alex Week” in honor of sixth grade student, classmate and friend Alex Blais who has been diagnosed with brain cancer.

During the school week of Jan. 15 to Jan. 19, middle schoolers participated in “No Name Calling Week.”  This week is nationally recognized by the GLSEN, or Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network as a week to educate students and teachers about name-calling and bullying in schools and how to end it.

“Founded in 2004 with Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, and evaluated by GLSEN research, No Name Calling Week was inspired by James Howe’s novel, “The Misfits” about students who, after experiencing name-calling, run for student council on a no name calling platform,” the GLSEN website reads.

Principal of Birchland Park Tim Allen shared what the school has done to corroborate with the national no name calling efforts, including activities in students’ advisory groups as well as a lunchroom “mix-up.”

“We have 25 tables in the cafeteria and we named each table after Nobel Peace Prizewinners.  There was a sheet at each table that gave facts about the winners.  Instead of the kids sitting with their friends, they picked up an envelope when they walked in and inside of each envelope was a ticket, and each ticket had a Nobel Peace Prizewinners name. It can be very cliquey in middle school and we tried to get them out of their cliques,” Allen said.

While the lunch mix-up was met with some reluctance, Allen noted there was a change in the vibe of the cafeteria that couldn’t be misconstrued.

In addition to the lunch mix-up, on Jan. 18 the kids met in their advisory groups to discuss “typical middle school labels.” Advisory groups are groups of about eight to 14 kids with one advisory facilitator, being a school faculty member. The students then participated in an activity that was intended to help them experience compassion toward one another.

“We had a discussion on labeling and what it does to people and relationships, and then we did an activity. Five students were picked from each advisory group and they went to the front and they had to wear a sticky note which had a typical middle school label on it, ‘nerd.’ ‘jock,’ etc.,”Allen explained. “The kids didn’t know what their label was, and other students had to talk to them until they could guess what their label was.  It was meant to show how once you’re wearing the label, it shows how people can think of you.”

During the week of Jan. 22 to Jan. 26, students at Birchland Park are honoring their classmate Alex Blais, who was diagnosed with brain cancer.  The students planned a series of activities over the week that encompass a few of Blais’ favorite subjects: superheroes and hockey.

“He’s fighting it really, really hard and he’s definitely an inspiration with all of this.  We just decided to take this week to emulate his spirit and strength and also focus as a school on some of his passions,” Allen said.

On Jan. 22, students gathered in their advisory groups and designed superhero masks.  They were allowed to wear them all day around the school, in honor of Alex’s love for superheros.  On Jan. 23, it was ‘hockey day’ where students could wear their favorite hockey team garb.  Jan. 24 was black and yellow day as well as a day to watch “The Lego Batman Movie” after school.  On Jan. 25 students were encouraged to be partners in crime, where they dress up with a friend as heros.  Finally, on Jan. 26, any student or faculty member who purchased an “Alex t-shirt” is encouraged to wear it in his honor.  The Alex t-shirt looks like a superhero logo but with an ‘A’ for Alex in the center.  Also on Jan. 26, the school is hosting a dance in his honor.  

“The Student Council are the ones facilitating the entire week.  They’re running the dance, the activities and the movie, all of the proceeds go to Alex and his family,” Allen explained.

Allen said that Blais is able to attend school when depending on the day and if he feels up for it, and that Blais is excited about “Alex week.”

“He [Blais] loves it, and he smiles ear to ear,” Allen shared.

“A lot of kids are very excited for it and are personally invested because they know and are friends with Alex, and then you have seventh and eighth graders who understand that even though they don’t know him, they’re beginning to understand what he’s going through and support him in that way,” Allen said.

Allen expressed that he’s proud of Birchland Park students and faculty as a whole for coming together, for jumping into the two weeks of activities and for supporting one of their own.