For the second year, the Goddard School of Mechanicsville is taking a proactive approach to bully prevention by offering a five-day celebration beginning Feb. 6 that focuses on the school’s play-based learning curriculum, as well as friendship.

The activities also will focus on teaching children about playing well with others and accepting each other’s differences.

“Bullying is extremely prevalent in our community,” Kathy Denunzio, co-owner of the Goddard School of Mechanicsville, said.  “According to Stompoutbullying.org, one out of every four children is bullied. In order to prevent this, it must begin with early teachings and practices. We look forward to our events, so we can play a part in Virginia’s efforts to combat it.”

The Mechanicsville school will host the Goddard Community Games, Feb. 6-10, and the schedule includes:
- Monday, Feb. 6: Friendship Day.
- Tuesday, Feb. 7: Play Along Day.
- Wednesday, Feb. 8: Goddard Good Deed Day.
- Thursday, Feb. 9: Goddard Cares Day.
- Friday, Feb. 10: Community Hero Day.
- Friday, Feb. 10: Goddard Community Games (5 to7 p.m.).
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We don’t have a serious problem with bullying at our school,” Denunzio added. “For us, it would be kids doing things to one another that you would classify as not being nice. Most of them are verbal, and we want to teach our students that words can hurt. We’re trying to teach them now that little things hurt and how they affect people.”