Above: Principal Whitney DeSantis, Joe Langerman, Amy Langerman, Jack Weers and Vice Principal Tom Bevilacqua stand while two students try out the bench.
Joe Langerman shared:
When I started VACHI 5 years ago at CHS, the mission was to educate students, teachers, parents and administrators about the consequences of hate motivated behavior. You can learn more about VACHI at our website – www.vachi.net. VACHI has raised funds through donations, and the sale of VACHI t-shirts and wristbands to support anti-bullying and tolerance programming in the district, including purchasing an entire antibullying curriculum for the elementary schools and helping to fund the busses for the annual Museum of Tolerance field trip.I was very happy when Jack Weers and Boy Scout Troop 806 stepped up to build the benches as Jack’s Eagle project. I had suggested this in the original donation letter as I knew it would reduce the overall cost and free up some of the grant for additional Buddy Bench training and other tolerance programs in the district. The schools ultimately benefitted from the Boy Scout connection as there were additional funds to build a third buddy bench for Village Kindergarten. There was also something symbolic about the benches being built as an Eagle project as VACHI was my Eagle Project too!
Amy Langerman shared:
VACHI was my son’s (Joe Langerman) Eagle Project so is was amazing that another Scout wanted to continue the message that VACHI sought to bring to our community by building these buddy benches. My son, Joe, has continued to advance VACHI’s mission; while at College at the University of Redlands, Joe visited many of the local high schools, spoke to the “Big Buddies” group and even lead a full day of anti-bullying programs at a Charter School.
Below: Photo of Coronado Village Elementary School students that received a Character Counts award this morning.
