New for the 2012-2013 school year Darren brings a school assembly program to students from Kindergarten to 8th grade that tackles the sensitive issue of “Bullying”.

The show features motivational true stories from Darren’s childhood, woven with juggling and magical effects that illustrate key concepts.  Darren’s approach is funny, heartfelt, encouraging, and hopeful.  Students are challenged to think about cause-and-effect and consider the actual long-lasting, consequences of their actions.  Kids can be cruel, but Darren helps each student recognize that sometimes there are “accidental bullies” and more often than not, kids aren’t aware of the hurt they do cause and how much damage they can do to one another.

Darren takes special care to encourage those who are picked on and to empower students to stand up for one another.  Kids easily relate to Darren’s stories and are transfixed by world-class juggling and amazing magic.  But most of all, they learn to laugh with and AT Darren and learn how bullying can have a life-long effect on people around them.

Show length: 45 minutes (with variations available for tight schedules)
Age groups: It is suggested to group the audience by age.  For instance: K-2nd, 3rd-5th, 6th-8th
Location: This show travels nationwide and is based in Dallas, TX

[hr] What People Are Saying:

“In this day and age, bullying is a huge concern in our schools.  Darren related to our elementary students by sharing his personal stories and entertaining with juggling and magic tricks.  He incorporated the students into his presentation and had them trying to wiggle their finger for days!  It was a great assembly and we’d love to have him back!”
Mrs. North – Principal, Shields Elementary

“I appreciated the way Darren pointed out the fact that not all people are created alike and that it is OK to be different than others around you.  He mentioned his feelings of loneliness and disappointment when he was not always accepted by those in his class.  He found ways to fit in and let those around him see his personality and his talents.  I enjoyed his juggling and his quirky way of bringing the students into his fun way of talking about bullying.”
Mrs. Veltman – PE teacher

[hr]
An unsolicited letter from a teacher:

To the PTA events planner:

Thank you so much for today’s presentation.  The character education was funny and sincere; but I wouldn’t have guessed I’d see benefits so soon.  I would appreciate it if you could forward the following to your presenter.

This morning (before the presentation) “Jim” came to me and explained that his feelings had been hurt by “Joe”.  Jim had told him who he had a crush on and Joe made a joke out of it.  I helped Jim talk to Joe about his feelings and asked Joe what he thought he should do.

He shrugged.

I coached that when you break a friend’s trust you have to give them a heartfelt apology and try to make it up to them.

Joe turned to me, shrugged and cold as ice said he didn’t want to be Jim’s friend anyway and he didn’t need any friends.  I apologized to Jim, thanked him for being so honest and sent him away so that I could talk to Jim alone.  I told him that I knew inside he desperately wanted friends and that need is probably what made him repeat the secret so that he could get attention.

Fast forwarding, we attended the presentation, hit the playground for recess and returned to the classroom where I asked the class to reflect in a quick write about a time they inadvertantly hurt someone or someone hurt them.  We did a full science lesson and then as I am lining the class up for lunch I notice that Joe’s head is on his desk.  As I walk towards him, Jim arrives by his side and rubs his back.  Heart swell.

I send the class on and ask Joe if he’s just overwhelmed and he lifted his face, tears streaming and says “I’m just so sorry, I hurt Jim’s feelings”.  He had independently apologized.  Giant heart swell … there are some days when you really get to see a difference being made.

I told both boys how proud I was of them, but this is Darren’s triumph … please let him know.

Susan Shogan
Third Grade Teacher
Forest Creek Elementary

 

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