The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Students have winning anti-bullying messages by Hilary Caton Metroland West Media Group 9 | Friday, March 28, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Oakville schools swept all three categories in the inaugural Give Respect, Get Respect Bullying Prevention Gala at Corpus Christi Secondary School in Burlington Wednesday. St. Michael and St. John elementary schools, and St. Ignatius of Loyola Secondary School, each won first place, a plaque and $500 to go toward their school's anti-bullying initiative. The Give Respect, Get Respect Halton School Challenge first launched in 2010 in partnership with the Halton Regional Police Service. It encourages students in Grades 6-12 to create art-based, public service messages that communicate the themes of respect, healthy relationships and inclusion as means of bullying prevention. Submissions for this year's competition began pouring in November 2013. Entries from 28 Halton elementary and secondary Catholic schools were pared down to 14 finalists by a committee. Students then were asked to vote for their favourite poster, video and song after previewing each at the gala. Elizabeth Silverton, 13, from St. Michael school, won for favourite original song. She said she drew inspiration for the lyrics from her own experience of being bullied based on appearance. Joel Louzado, 16, from St. Ignatius of Loyola, won for his poster depicting the shattered portrait of a woman with a tear rolling down her cheek. He said he, too, was inspired through personal experience. People may not realize being called "skinny" can be insulting too, explained Louzado. "I know a lot of people who go through bullying and it's hard to go through," he said. The message `Words Shatter' is displayed at the top of Louzado's poster and at the bottom, it reads: `Everyone Matters.' St. Michael Elementary School students, in back, from left, Yasmine Mazhari, 13, Emily Baxter, 13, and Skyler Albert, 14. In front, from left, Kristine Zverina, 13, Elizabeth Silverton, 13, and Sophia Padoan, 13. Silverton wrote a song for the Give Respect, Get Respect contest. The group made an accompanying video. However, as only one entry was allowed, the group entered the song -- a good call, as it won the contest's song category. | photo by Nikki Wesley ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) The theme of respect was prominent at the gala, with students sporting bright orange Tshirts bearing the `Give Respect, Get Respect slogan' in bold blue letters. "Our goal is to have, some day, no bullying in our society," Superintendent of Education, School Services Toni Pinelli told the throng of students in the Corpus Christi theatre. "Your voice and your engagement is critical. This is about you." Guest speaker Anthony McLean, who is the founder and director of iEngage Student Wellness, was on hand to deliver a motivational speech that aimed to connect with students using humour and simplicity. "If we all respect each other, we'll all feel more comfortable at school," said McLean. "You don't have to be friends, but you have to be friendly." As he concluded his speech, he encouraged students to go back to their respective schools and make a change for the better when it comes to bullying prevention. He left students with a simple message: "Be the change you want to see in the world." My real focus was on the anxiety and separation teens feel when they're bullied. The different colours represent the lack of identity and how people feel kind of broken up," said the Oakville teen. A group of three Grade 8 girls from St. John elementary school won for favourite video -- it shows an over-the-shoulder depiction of someone writing a positive message and putting it in an envelope to mail to another country. By the end of the video, the envelope is covered in stamps from around the world, filled with various encouraging messages and returned to the original sender. "We wanted it (the message) to get across the world, not just in Halton. Respect everyone, everywhere," said Sheila Murray, 13, who helped with the video. A STEP BEYOND IN CARE DO YOU HAVE: Salima Kassam Reg. Chiropodist · Foot/Arch Pain? · Ingrown Toenails? · Diabetes? · Swollen Ankles? · Corns, Calluses? CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT 905-632-1414 728 Burloak Drive www.footandhealthclinic.com VISIT OUR WEDNESDAY, Open House on AT HSC, PERSONAL ATTENTION MEANS PERSONAL GROWTH. HSC is very caring and nurturing; every child gets the individual attention that they need to succeed." - Current HSC Parent April 9 OPEN HOUSE April 5th · 10 am - 2 pm Admissions testing available. Pre-registration required. For more information please call 905-891-1890 x 103 or email: admissions@hnmcs.ca Hillfield Strathallan College is an independent day school for Montessori Toddler and Pre-Kindergarten students to Grade 12. Visit us at www.hsc.on.ca. Now accepting applications for September 2014. Call Scott Barton 905-389-1367