Australian author shares anti-bullying message with Schuylerville students

Schuylerville students with author Susanne GervaySchuylerville Elementary and Middle Schools teamed up with the Schuylerville Public Library to bring an anti-bullying initiative to students in grades 3-6. Families were asked to read the book “I am Jack” by Susanne Gervay. The main character in the book, Jack, is inspired by Gervay’s own son and his experiences with bullying.

“Bullying is, unfortunately, a topic that resonates worldwide, and it’s a concern for a lot of parents,” said Schuylerville Public Library Director Caitlin Johnson. “This book is a good representation of the anti-bullying movement, and I think it is a great resource for our community.”

Through the district and library co-sponsorship on this project, the library funded an author visit to the district on Friday, Oct. 23. Students took part in a one-hour presentation where Gervay spoke about the book and answered student questions.

“Being able to read the book with their families and then having the author come to school was a wonderful learning experience for our students,” said Middle School Principal Katie Elsworth. “The students were excited about Gervay’s visit, and we want to thank the library for making it possible.”

The library plans to hold a follow-up program in December about how parents can work on anti-bullying at home and how to spot warning signs of a child who is being bullied.

“We were very pleased to co-sponsor this event,” said Schuylerville Public Library Program Coordinator Brittany Cole. “The ‘I Am Jack’ series puts to words feelings that the kids might struggle to articulate themselves, and I believe this entire activity helped the students open up and think deeply about bullying.”

Click below to watch a video on Susanne Gervay’s visit