MORRISTOWN –– October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, and an amazing superhero without a cape was in Morristown to show students and educators how they can spread HOPE (Hold On, Possibilities Exist) in their classrooms and beyond.

Pat Fish, of Sweethearts & Heroes, worked at Morristown Central School earlier this month.

Sweethearts and Heroes is a student empowerment and empathy activation team that aims to prevent bullying and suicide with a focus on the basic components of social-emotional learning (SEL). Sweethearts & Heroes offers a profound, engaging signature presentation that calls for HOPE, Empathy and Action; Circle, which is built on the ancient ritual of communicating in a circle to build empathy; and BRAVES Buddies, which trains older students in bully drills that they, in turn, teach to students in lower grades.

“We are thrilled to welcome Sweethearts and Heroes back to our District this year. We started the year with Pat Fish and his focus centered around the practice of Circles. This unique session fostered a profound sense of community, emphasizing the power of active listening, meaningful sharing, and the strength found in shared moments of vulnerability,” said Superintendent, Staci Vaughn. “The impact of this workshop has been inspiring, as it aligns seamlessly with our commitment to nurturing a positive and inclusive learning environment. I believe that creating such spaces for connection is fundamental to the well-being and success of our students and staff.”

The Sweethearts & Heroes team is Tom Murphy, Director and Founder, of St. Albans, Vt.; Ret. U.S. Army Sgt. Rick Yarosh, a HOPE expert and motivational speaker from New York who was burned severely while serving in Iraq; and Pat Fish, BRAVES and Circle Leader, who first saw Sweethearts & Heroes when he was a student in South Glens Falls.

While in Morristown, Fish concentrated on Circles with students and educators (For more on Circle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q286yIL9L1E) Yarosh and Murphy were in Morristown last April. Fish’s Circle work this week was a natural follow-up to their visit. He is scheduled to return to Morristown for Circles on Monday, Nov. 13 and Tuesday, Nov. 14.

“Circle is an opportunity for amazing stories to be shared and heard,” said Fish. “Amazing isn’t good or bad. Some amazing stories I’ve heard are heartbreaking, others are heartwarming, and others are hilarious. But every single one of us has an amazing story, because we all have unique experiences. Circle allows everyone the chance to share those stories and, more importantly, to practice listening so that we can learn from others’ amazing stories. Also, there are various social-emotional skills practiced in Circle. What sets us apart? We make it fun! Everywhere we go, there’s a thirst for Circle from students of all ages, social groups, and backgrounds. They want to connect further with the people around them. Circle is a vehicle for that.”

“We’re cultivating compassion and empathy in schools again this year, and we’re glad that our friends in Morristown invited us back,” Murphy said. “We aim to stop students from making destructive decisions and help them treat each other with kindness. We also make our messages sustainable in schools, so that they also have an eventual and sustainable effect on the local community. The spider web effect is powerful, and there’s HOPE for everyone.”

For more than 16 years, Sweethearts & Heroes has presented what Murphy calls “‘the ‘stop, drop and roll’ of bullying” to more than 2.5 million students in school districts from New England to Hawaii and north into Canada. Sweethearts & Heroes also tailors its presentations and workshops for businesses, non-profits, and civic groups.

Murphy said, “We go where we’re needed. That’s what heroes do.”

For more information on Sweethearts & Heroes, visit: sweetheartsandheroes.com.