STICKS AND STONES

PictureRollinsford Grade School, Rollinsford, NH
Sticks and stones may break your bones, and words WILL hurt you! Or they will lift you up and make you feel good about yourself. The difference is in the intent behind the words. If we can incite young people to be more intentional about using language that builds people up instead of tearing them down; if we can illustrate how kindness and empathy and love lead to a power greater than that resulting from intimidating others; if we can help them to be more accepting of others who are different from themselves; if we commit to the ruination of the adage, ‘kids will be kids’, and unsubscribe from the idea that meanness is a rite of passage; if we can do these things, then we can quite possibly change a culture in a generation. We realize, however, that with all of the demands put on educators these days, finding time to integrate curriculum about social issues such as bullying and victimization can be difficult.

That’s where we can help.  STICKS AND STONES is designed to get the kindness ball rolling.  It is an imaginative program for grades K – 8 that uses performance art, music and language arts to tackle the problem of bullying and drug abuse. By engaging participants in fun, meaningful, and self-reflective activities, STICKS AND STONES aims to outfit our young people with tools and strategies to productively interact with individuals who demonstrate bullying behaviors while offering bullies compelling reasons to change their own behavior. Moreover, STICKS AND STONES makes a strong case for the idea that KINDNESS and ACCEPTANCE are immensely more powerful and rewarding than the stature one may gain from intentionally hurting, intimidating or isolating others.  The culminating performance for a STICKS AND STONES residency is a MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA that highlights what participants have learned during the program and wish to apply to their everyday lives.

For more information including a sampling of hundreds of letters that we have received from teachers, parents, administrators and students, please download an info packet here.

LESSON PLANS (more to come):
Reflective Essay
Kindness Bucket

PRICING  (grant opportunities and resources below) *
FUNDRAISING IDEAS FOR STICKS AND STONES
One-week residency (5 days): $5,000 
It is not uncommon for some schools to need additional days beyond the 5-day pricing above:
        Each additional day: $1,000
        One full additional week (5 days): $4,000 
Materials and sundries:  $300
Plus mileage and lodging (when applicable) 


Includes:
  • Facilitation by two teaching artists with impeccable classroom management skills and over 40 years combined experience working with grades K - 8 in a variety of settings;
  • A life-changing and school culture defining experience for youth grades K-8;
  • Lessons and experiences created in accordance with the Common Core Curriculum Standards
  • Extraordinary hand-made instruments and sound effect devices constructed from found objects and electronics;
  • Professional promotional materials to help promote the final performance;
  • A state-of-the-art audio/visual system custom designed especially for STICKS AND STONES;
  • A final performance hailed by dozens of teachers and administrators as one of the best artist-in-residence performances ever;
  • An on-going system to keep the ball rolling where Sticks and Stones leaves off;
  • And much more!

grant opportunities & resources
"Sticks and Stones is one of the most important artist-in-residence programs in schools today.”

Bob Lister
Mayor, Portsmouth, NH
(Former Superintendent of Portsmouth, NH Schools)

PRESS KIT & PAR​ENT NOTIFICATION FOR SCHOOLS
CLICK ON MEGAPHONE ABOVE FOR TEXT. 

NOTE:  ENLARGE PHOTO AND LOGO (ON RIGHT) BY CLICKING ON THEM. DRAG THE ENLARGED PHOTOS TO YOUR DESKTOP AND SEND THEM ALONG WITH PRESS RELEASE TO NEWSPAPERS.
A TEMPLATE FOR SCHOOLS

VIDEO

2nd Graders from Cole School in Boxford, MA sing "With My Own Two Hands" by Ben Harper
A MUST SEE! 6th-grade dress rehearsal, Stratham, NH
We Will Rock You With KINDNESS sketch (the tall white hats in the beginning say 'Kindness' and 'Joy')
We Are The Movers and the Shakers!
"Not Afraid" by Marshall Mathers (AKA Eminem); lyrics and arrangement adapted for Sticks and Stones; performed by the amazing sixth-graders at Rollinsford Grade School in Rollinsford, NH.
A fresh perspective on the classic hit by Bill Withers
Fairview School students in Auburn, Maine captivate their audience with powerful words.
A/V tour of our set; pardon the gum chomping!
Riley has a dream!  This kid is incredible!

PRESS  

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TV NEWS SPOT
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An Old School Rule: It's Cool to be Kind
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Jeff Erwin of Trashcan Lid Productions, on drums, watches his student drummers watch the dancers during a rehearsal of “Stand Up Tall” Friday afternoon at Central School in South Berwick. From left, Declan FitzGerald, Daniella Aceto, Kevin Cougler, Abby Simonelli and James Dowd. Erwin and Skip Brunette are in residence at the school with “Sticks and Stones,” a program to help students deal with bullying. The show will be presented Wednesday at the school.
Ralph Morang photo
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Skip Brunette, left, sings with children at the Sticks & Stones anti-bullying event at Central School in South Berwick Thursday afternoon. 
Ryan McBride/Staff Photographer
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SACO, Maine —October is bullyiing prevention month.  Two men are doing what they can to help eliminate the problem but creating a performance call Sticks and Stones.  It's performed by a group called Trash Can Lids Production [sic].  The group performed Tuesday evening at Fairfield School in Saco.  Jeff Erwin and Skip Brunette want kids to know it's cool to be kind.
Aly Myles photo

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