Photo provided Bridgeport Middle School’s seventh and eighth grade members of the Sources of Strength pictures in front from left, Nova, Ariel, Esmee and Zander. Standing from left are Johnathan, Braylon, Sophia, Kason, Olicer, Courtney and Prevention Specialist Holly Garvin.

BRIDGEPORT — The student members of Bridgeport Exempted Village School District’s Sources of Strength program are launching new initiatives to let their peers know they are valuable and have friends among the Bulldog students and staff they can turn to during difficult times.

For almost three years, Bridgeport Exempted Village School District has participated in Sources of Strength, a national youth-led initiative formed to prevent suicide and spread positive messages in schools and communities.

Bridgeport Schools Prevention Specialist Holly Garvin was proud to see the 10 seventh- and eighth-grade student members take the lead during a Sources of Strength training exercise hosted by the East Ohio Educational Service Center at The Learning Center.

Garvin nominates students for Sources of Strength after talking to teachers and staff.

“I’ve known the seventh graders since kindergarten and the eighth graders since first grade, so I know them very well,” she said. “I look for leadership skills and responsibility skills.”

The students meet weekly and have a training session once a year. The most recent training called on students to explore different media.

Eighth grader Zander described how he and his peers brainstormed different project ideas and put together their plans.

“Some of us are crafting together ideas for morning announcements, like putting on quotes,” he said. “Some of us have ideas for making videos for parents, students and teachers.”

Others are exploring art such as making posters to hang around campus to promote positive thoughts and health.

Eighth grader Courtney said they divided into three groups focusing on art, media and school related messages.

“I was in the art group. We made our own version of the posters,” she said.

“We drew out posters of positivity and how to help people,” she said. “We can put them into a bigger project later.”

Courtney said the media group is already making a contribution to the weekly morning announcements.

“It’s been put on the announcements every Monday. It’s Positive Message Monday where whoever is on the announcements will grab a positive message and say it to the middle school to help promote positivity and helpfulness and selflessness.”

Eighth grader Sophia is excited for the upcoming Duck Hunt, Dec. 17.

“We are going to hide ducks around the school and have the students find them,” she said.

She added that hunting the small model ducks is more than a fun game.

“It is mostly to spread suicide prevention awareness,” Sophia said. The students will also be including the warning signs for suicide over the announcements, and how to help friends and get them through difficult times.

Sophia said being part of Sources of Strength has equipped her and her fellow students to foster behavior such as seeking out positive friendships and healthy activities and promoting these qualities to help their peers.

Early in 2026, students will kick off the Trusted Adult campaign, when all the middle schoolers will name trusted adults in the building, so students will know they have somewhere to turn if they need an adult to talk to should they or a friend be facing problems.

Bridgeport Middle School Principal Anne Haverty Lawson is impressed by her students, particularly in how they lead by example.

“It’s just the little things we do for one another that help people find a positive part of the day.”