Taproot Theatre has visited Stillwater Elementary three times in the past six years. This year the theatre brought its highly acclaimed bullying prevention program, “Treasure Allies” to share with students and staff.

School counselor Karyn Summers helped to organize the program, since the Taproot series supports the Riverview School District’s bullying prevention program Steps to Respect.

The Steps to Respect program is used at Stillwater in the fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms, and grades K -3 with use Second Step, the primary version.

Taproot’s “Treasure Allies” is a new, well received-program, said Amy Wright, Stillwater Principal. “We had asked our PTSA to partner with us to bring this type of assembly back to Stillwater,” she said. “The Taproot program brings the topics of recognizing, refusing and reporting bullying behaviors to students in a fun and engaging way. It is the perfect follow-up to the district’s Steps to Respect Bullying Prevention Program and truly sets the tone for a positive year for all students.”The Taproot program uses the power of storytelling to help students address this important issue, blending lessons of respect and bullying prevention into the story’s sequence of events. At the end of the presentation Taproot actors interact with students helping to emphasize and reinforce the lessons shared.

For more information on this and other Taproot programs available for schools, visit www.taprootthreatre.org.