When Headless Horseman Hayrides & Haunted Houses in Ulster Park is not busy scaring people, it is busing spreading understanding, caring, and acceptance. Working with the fright-experts, Highland Middle School (HMS) staged an emotional presentation for students featuring some terrifying, real-life monsters—bullies!

This year’s recent presentation at Highland Middle School was the seventh edition of the “Don’t Be a Monster” anti-bullying assembly that has been presented to students in Grades 6 and 7. Headless Horseman illusionist Ryan Dutcher conducted the program, offering students important information about resisting the urge to bully and showing video examples that dramatized the harmful effects that bullying and intimidation can have.

“This presentation has become a staple in our efforts to combat negative behaviors at Highland Middle School,” said Assistant Principal Meghan Connors, who coordinates the program as part of the school’s ongoing anti-bullying effort. “Ryan does an amazing job of keeping the presentation engaging, relevant, and personal. These are key attributes to a program that will be meaningful, engage our students, and hopefully have an impact on how they respond to difficult situations in the future.”

Dutcher, who revealed that he was bullied when he was young because of his affinity for doing magic tricks, advised the HMS students to avoid the various forms of bullying demonstrated in his talk, including physical, verbal, and cyberbullying. He also urged them to take action if they see someone being bullied.

“I want you to be upstanders, not bystanders,” said Dutcher, explaining that being an upstander can be as simple as joining someone who is being ostracized for lunch, helping a bullied student walk away from a negative situation, or bringing bullying behavior to the attention of a trusted adult.

After listening to Dutcher’s advice and participating in some targeted exercises, as well as a question and answer session, the HMS students watched a video featuring Frank Shelley, a sweet monster who is tormented at school for being different. Dutcher then introduced Shelley to the students, who clamored to give the friendly monster a high five or a handshake.

Connors said the message the program promotes – “In a world where you can be anything, be kind” – is important for students to understand.

“The message reinforces how important it is to embrace individuality, discourage bullying in your own life, and choose to make this world a better place,” she said.