This morning, students in grades 1–6 received a larger-than-life reminder about kindness when the Optimus Is Here anti-bullying assembly visited James A. Garfield Local Schools. The assembly was made possible by a generous donation from Nikk and Sabrina Fabry, parents in the district, that covered the cost of the program, making the experience possible for our students.
Presenter Joe Fiduccia brought his full-size replica of the Optimus Prime truck and shared his own experiences with bullying. His message encouraged students to recognize bullying, seek help when they need it and choose how they will treat others. He also shared how perseverance helped him build the truck despite people who doubted his dream.
The students were treated to an extra surprise at the end of the assembly as Joe called in a 'favor' and around the corner rolled out "Bumblebee", a yellow Chevy Camaro!
The program’s call to “rise above” bullying connects with the values our students practice every day, including respect, kindness and perseverance. We are grateful to the Fabry family for investing in an experience that gave our students a memorable way to talk about those choices.
Together, every journey matters—and every student deserves to feel that they belong.