For their second year in a row, the students of North Dover Elementary School in Toms River took a pop song, changed the lyrics and turned it into a fun video with an upbeat message about the need to combat bullying among youngsters.
TOMS RIVER -- The kids at North Dover Elementary School in Toms River are serious about their anti-bullying messages.
For their second year in a row, they took a pop song, changed the lyrics and turned it into a fun video with an upbeat message about the need to combat bullying among youngsters.
In their debut video last year, the students and teachers adopted Taylor Swift's 'Shake It Off.' This year, they've adapted Rachel Platten's 'Fight Song,' to reflect the need to fight the urge to be a bully and speak up against those who bully.
MORE: North Dover Elementary students 'Shake it off' when it comes to bullying
Colleen McGrath, principal of the K-5 school, credited two of the district's high school students with the creation and production. She said. Corey Batchelder, a former North Dover student who is now a freshman at Toms River High School South, helped create the lyrics and Tommy Rodgers, a senior at Toms River High School East, used nearly every inch of the school from its rooftop to the playground to get his shots. He also edited the video.
Each grade got to put its own creative spin on their scenes and nearly all of the school's 600 students got to be in the shots.
"The hard work is all but done and now the students and staff of North Dover can take pride in themselves and their school for the positive message that they have created," McGrath said. "Bully Free is a motto that we follow each day at North Dover, and hopefully we can inspire others to feel the same."
MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.