School hosts anti-bullying program

Merrill McCubbin of MerMan Productions uses humor and magic tricks to teach children how to handle and understand bullies. Katherine Elementary School will host the unique MerMan show with two assemblies and a family night on Friday, Jan. 18.

The first assembly at 8:30 a.m. will be for kindergarten through third grade students. The 9:30 a.m. assembly will be for fourth, fifth and sixth graders. Family night for students and parents will begin at 6:30 p.m.

McCubbin- who has performed his skits for over 20 years throughout the U.S., Canada and England- will use magic, illusion, storytelling, puppetry and comedy to entertain children at Katherine while sending an anti-bullying message.

Jodi Serra, vice president of Katherine's PTA- which coordinated the assembly- said she thinks the program will catch the children's attention.

"I've got a child in the fourth grade and he's been on both sides of bullying," Serra said. "I'm trying to teach him not to be a bully. It's a good to start saying the message when they're really young. I know they have a harder time in junior high."

For more information on MerMan Productions, visit www.bebullyfree.com.

- Eliav Appelbaum