 Well, as part of National Stomp Out Bullying Day, Brainerd Schools are demonstrating positivity through an abundance of color. Sarah Winkelman stopped by Riverside Elementary to hear from staff and students about their efforts. Riverside Elementary was a sea of blue today as the issue of bullying was brought to the surface. Their main focus is on the three R's, respect, responsibility, and positive relationships. We do some things called yoga calm, where we're teaching students some breathing skills and techniques, how to calm that body down, again that's preventative, so they don't blow up and do or say things that they don't really want to do. Creating awareness that not every situation should be classified as bullying. Certainly some things that happen are a student might be mean for a moment or do it teasing for a moment, and again we're trying to educate our students that those things happen and it doesn't make someone a bully and deserve the label of bullying. Bullying is something that's not good and when someone is repeating something that is not good over and over again, when you ask them to stop once, then it's time to get a teacher's help. When dealing with a bully situation there are three parts to take into consideration. Someone has power over someone else, someone is doing something unwanted, and then the third layer is that it's repeated. Students at Riverside Elementary are taking a step in a positive direction by coloring shoes to stop all bullying. I think it's important that people are aware of it just so they know, even parents to know that they should maybe ask their kids every once in a while what's going on because bullying is such a bad thing. The school has not noticed any serious issues with bullies in the past but observes this national anti-bullying month to remind students that positive behavior should be recognized too. That makes me feel proud that we can have a school that doesn't do that stuff and so we don't have to have as much arguments and we don't have to have a big talk at recess. A simple message about friendship that can tackle a difficult issue. Reporting in Brainerd, Sarah Winckelman, Lakeland News. More colorful shoes will be added to the stop out bullying wall throughout the week. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.