Russell Wilson's Pass the Peace challenge

MATTAWA - Heeding Seattle Seahawk Quarterback Russell Wilson's call to action, Wahluke Junior High students took part in raising awareness of bullying as part of National Bully Prevention month in October.

Principal Andy Harlow and Vice Principal Sean Langdon saw this challenge as an opportunity for Wahluke Junior High, and they had a little fun with it. They created a video as "Hans and Franz" challenging Wahluke Junior High to Pass the Peace, to take a stand against bullying and domestic violence. http://youtu.be/zSA4ZqkMZuc

Wahluke Junior High took the challenge seriously, and raised $1,000 for Wilson's Why Not You Foundation in just three days by selling Pass the Peace/End Bullying bracelets. Students who purchased a pass the peace bracelet joined together in the football stadium to challenge neighboring schools.

Students Omar Hernandez, Jose Celaya, and Eli Barajas created a video challenging middle schools Columbia Burbank, Connell and Royal to Pass the Peace.

"This month's theme of ending bullying has brought Wahluke Junior High students together, uniting the school in a positive way," Harlow said.

The success of Wahluke Junior High's Pass the Peace challenge efforts were recognized by Wilson and the National Domestic Hotline on Twitter.

"It was very exciting," Langdon said. "In the spirit of Russell Wilson's challenge, each of the schools Wahluke Junior High challenged accepted the challenge to Pass the Peace."

School counselor Jill Powell and Langdon helped lead efforts for ending bullying with an interactive bully prevention school assembly. Powell reminded students there are different types of bullying - physical, verbal, and social.

"One of the most prevalent types of bullying in schools is cyberbullying," She said.

Students created short anti-bullying videos that highlighted different types of bullying.

The bully prevention assembly not only raised awareness of bullying, Langdon said. It empowered students with strategies of appropriate ways to help stop it. Students were reminded of safe bully reporting systems.

Wahluke Junior High accepted Wilson's Pass the Peace challenge not only to help bring awareness of bullying but also domestic violence.

Wilson's charity, the Why Not You Foundation, donates money to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Contributions help provide victims of domestic violence with physical, emotional and financial support and care, and the resources to get away from their abusers.

"Wilson has often shared candidly that he was a bully as a kid," Langdon said. "He said it's important to raise awareness of bullying and domestic violence if we want to end them."