[Classifieds] [classifieds] Press Release: VIPS Announces No Guff Week 2014

[MBL Classifieds]

From: "Drawde Geishecker" <dgeishecker at falmouth.k12.ma.us> 
Sent: Thursday, January 9, 2014 3:51:40 PM 
Subject: Press Release: VIPS Announces No Guff Week 2014 



NO GUFF WEEK 2014 





For Immediate Release: 8 January 2014 

For Details, Contact: 

Tracey Crago, VIPS Director, (508) 548-1621, tcrago at falmouth.k12.ma.us 






Nominations Sought for Falmouth Community Member who Exemplifies No GUFF Spirit 



Plans are currently underway to celebrate the 14 th annual “No Guff Week” throughout Falmouth. This event, unique to Falmouth, is a time to celebrate respect and anti-bullying. This year, No Guff Week will be celebrated January 27-31, 2014. No Guff Week encourages celebrations of respect, community, and unity. In the schools, it is a time when students and staff work together to create a positive atmosphere in the school and avoid name-calling and put-downs. The theme for 2014 is “Stand Up, Don’t Stand By.” 



New for this year will be the recognition of one member of the Falmouth community who epitomizes the No Guff spirit throughout the year . The No Guff planning committee is seeking nominations of individuals who consistently: 

- display a positive attitude 

- avoid talking negatively about others 

- practice random acts of kindness 

- offer kind words or lend a hand to others 

To nominate an individual who lives the No Guff lifestyle, please send the following information by email to noguff at falmouth.k12.ma.us : Your name and contact information; the name of your nominee and his/her contact information, and a couple of sentences (100 words or less) about how your nominee fits the criteria. Specific examples or anecdotes are helpful but not required. Nominations are due by January 24 th . 



The recipient of this, the first annual No Guff Spirit Award, will be announced at the Falmouth High School No Guff Week assembly on Friday, January 31 st . This is also the time when student and faculty winners of the No Guff Spirit Award are announced. 



No Guff Week follows the Commonwealth’s annual observation of “No Name-Calling Day,” observed Wednesday, January 29 th . Many activities, observations, and celebrations are planned for the 2014 No Guff Week in Falmouth. Falmouth Selectmen, at an upcoming meeting, will issue a proclamation declaring January 27-31 No Guff Week in Falmouth. The business community, through the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce and the participation of local businesses will also observe No Guff Week by placing posters in their windows of place of business stating “This is a No Guff Zone.” In addition, community members, nonprofit organizations, committees, and community groups are invited and encouraged to take the No Guff Pledge as a way to help create a positive environment. 



Falmouth citizens are encouraged to come up with creative ways to celebrate the No Guff concept at home, at school, at work, and during leisure time. Community organizations are asking their board members to take the pledge, and coaches are asking Falmouth athletes to take the pledge and show off their sportsmanship. 



“Guff,” a slang term that refers to verbal abuse, was adopted by a group of students at Falmouth High School in 2001. These students were working with high school adjustment counselor, Greg Gilbert, to curb negativity and put-downs. To attract attention to their efforts, high school graphic arts teacher, Doug Riebesehl, printed up hundreds of t-shirts bearing the “No Guff” message. 2014 marks the 14 th year this event has been celebrated at Falmouth High School. Mr. Riebesehl died in 2001, but the tradition has continued in his honor, thanks in large part to the efforts of his eldest son, Nick (FHS Class of 2011), Gilbert, and a No Guff committee. In 2010, the event was expanded to all schools in Falmouth and throughout the community. 

-- 
Drawde Geishecker 
VIPS Secretary 
VIPS c/o FHS 
874 Gifford Street, Falmouth MA 02540 
(508) 548-1621 or (508) 540-2200 x4055 

The contents of this e-mail, and any attachments, are the property of the Falmouth Public School District, and are subject to the Public Records Law, M.G.L. c. 66, Sec. 10. 

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