By Rachel Lavery, Special Writer
UPPER FREEHOLD — Stone Bridge Middle School is preparing to “Mojo Up.”
It continued with its SUN (Stand United against Bullying) initiative as it began Operation Mojo on Oct. 22 with its annual anti-bullying assembly.
For the past four years, the school has had the rally and a featured speaker. Last year’s presentation was anchored by Rachel’s Challenge, inspired by Columbine victim Rachel Scott.
Each year, a banner is unveiled, and the program concludes with a slideshow, which includes the recitation of the SUN anti-bullying pledge.
This year’s featured speaker was Mr. Mojo, a national anti-bullying coach. Mr. Mojo, whose real name is Travis Brown, travels the country, speaking to students as part of his anti-bullying tour.
He has been featured on MTV’s “Made,” has been seen on Fox, NBC, CBS, CNN and MSNBC and works as a motivational speaker for NFL teams.
Mr. Mojo asked the crowd of students, staff and parents to “Mojo Up.”
Using games and stories to illustrate his message about standing up to bullying, he told them, “You have the power to help people, and you have the power to hurt people.”
There are Mojo haters and Mojo makers, he said, Mojo makers are “steppin’ in and steppin’ up,” he said.
He told them, “Don’t be scared to step in; don’t be scared to stand up.”
Mr. Mojo discussed ways to step in when bullying occurs. He demonstrated how students could say something directly to those involved. He also said students could report bullying to an adult, either verbally or in writing.
The school has SUN boxes available for students to anonymously report bullying.
Mr. Mojo talked about the value of each person.
”We all have our idea of what normal looks like,” he said, “How do we treat those people who don’t fit in our normal box?”
He asked the group to “accept them and respect them.”
Mr. Mojo used the analogy of a $100 bill. He crumpled it up and stamped on it, asking the students if they still would want it. He asked them if they still would want it after it had been covered in mud, etc.
He stressed to them it hadn’t lost any value, and that was what this day was about.
”You have value; you have worth,” he told them.
Mr. Mojo ended his presentation by asking the students to take the MojoMakers pledge.
The pledge, which is featured on his Facebook page, reads, in part:
”I pledge that I will lead my school and community through my positive actions!
”I will treat my classmates with respect through my words and my actions.
”I will embrace those who may be different than me.
”I will walk with courage and conviction and do the right thing!
”I will speak up and speak out against bullying.
”I will choose to refrain from all forms of bullying…
”If I see, hear, or know of bullying, and my actions and words do not help to stop it, I will take the proper steps to notify an adult at home or at school.”
The assembly, which included reflections by students, games and performances by the school’s Redbird Singers, concluded with the annual unveiling of this year’s SUN banner. The banner, which all students will sign, featured the slogan, “Operation Mojo.”
After student Ashley Corsica read her poem, “My Reflection,” Principal Mark Guterl began the traditional slideshow, a compilation of photos, music and motivational lessons.
The presentation informed the students “we still have work to do.”
The entire student body recited the school’s SUN anti-bullying pledge as it flashed across the screen. The slideshow concluded with the song, “Stand Up,” by Sugarland.
After the slideshow, Mr. Mojo told the student body, “I have never been to a school that did all of this.”
The entire assembly was filmed by TV production company Dragon Fly Productions for an anti-bullying documentary.

