On Wednesday, Nov. 5, the No Hate Tour visited WCHS to put on a breathtaking show and spread a crucial message. The tour, which has visited over 200 schools across the country, fights bullying in an unconventional way: a BMX performance full of risky bike tricks and shocking stunts.
“The performance was not what I expected,” WCHS senior Carly Yesnowitz said. “I was pleasantly surprised by the talent of the performers and how creatively they integrated the message of no hate into the show. My favorite part of the assembly was the brain break filled with exciting and entertaining tricks. It provided fun while still emphasizing a powerful message.”
Although the connection between anti-bullying and bike stunts may not be easy to identify, the combination proved to be a successful, interactive way to get through to students. Instead of having an assembly exclusively consisting of listening to a speaker, key messages about kindness, empathy and the dangers of bullying were mixed into the performance between tricks.
“My students were raving about it,” WCHS social studies teacher Ian Vickery said. “The students were super engaged the whole time, and it was incredibly memorable. It was very effective in getting the ‘No Hate’ message across and bringing awareness to the issue that our community faces.”
Entertaining a student body of over 2,000 is no easy task, so the tour’s ability to keep students intrigued and on the edge of their seats was an accomplishment in itself. One stand-out moment of the show was when WCHS assistant principal Dr. La Faye Howard was brought up to be part of a stunt.
“I loved when the biker flipped over Dr. Howard,” Vickery said. “She was such a good sport and so brave for volunteering to do that. The BMXers were so talented and had mastered their craft.”
The No Hate Tour’s mission spans far beyond the WCHS football stadium. The tour travels to a new school each day and has reached over 4 million high school students so far. From Chicago to Dallas to Salt Lake City, the group stays true to its message and mission.
“I think [students] should really think about how they are treating others and if they see any form of bullying, they should be prepared to step up and intervene and report it to the necessary support systems,” Vickery said.
Ultimately, the assembly was yet another way to promote the “No Place for Hate” environment that WCHS strives to foster and a further step to creating a community where each and every student feels welcome and supported.
“I took away that bullying is an issue that needs to be reported and taken seriously, and that people should always follow their passions regardless of what others might think,” Yesnowitz said.
