STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — District Attorney Michael E. McMahon returned to William G. Wilcox PS/I.S. 48 in Concord Tuesday to launch the 10th annual “Stand Up. Stop Bullying” campaign, which focuses on the importance of kindness in preventing bullying.
The annual campaign includes a contest that allows elementary and middle school students across Staten Island to express their feelings and personal experiences with bullying through art and writing. Winners are selected in the spring, and are celebrated at a closing ceremony held at the College of Staten Island in Willowbrook.
PS/I.S. 48, which is led by Principal Allison O’Donnell, submitted over 400 pieces of work in the 2025 campaign, making it a leader in the anti-bullying and kindness initiative.
William G. Wilcox (PS/I.S. 48) in Concord hosted the kickoff event for the tenth annual campaign, where District Attorney Michael E. McMahon emphasized how childhood bullying can lead to criminal conduct in adulthood.Nicolette Cavallaro | Staten Island Advance/SILive.com
“You chose our initiative to take the message of a school built around kindness and wrap it around our anti-bullying ‘Stand Up. Stop Bullying,’ campaign,” McMahon told students during the launch. “The two go so much together. When we are kind, that’s the best medicine, the best antidote for stopping and ending bullying.”
McMahon also shared how anti-bullying relates to his job upholding law and order as the district attorney of the borough.
“Believe it or not, bullying amongst children is something that happens later in life, and the same kind of conduct leads to crimes — hitting other people, hurting other people, taking things from other people that are not theirs,” he said. “That’s a form of bullying, when you get to be adults, it could be criminal conduct.”
William G. Wilcox (PS/I.S. 48) in Concord hosted the kickoff event for the tenth annual campaign, where District Attorney Michael E. McMahon emphasized how childhood bullying can lead to criminal conduct in adulthood. McMahon was joined by Dr. Roderick Palton, the current Superintendent for Staten Island’s public schools, who congratulated the school and students on spreading the word of kindness and respect.Nicolette Cavallaro | Staten Island Advance/SILive.com
McMahon was joined by Dr. Roderick Palton, the current superintendent for Staten Island’s public schools, who congratulated the school and students on spreading the word of kindness and respect.
“You’ve all played such a vital role in the experience you have in schools. If you know that you want to feel love and respected, guess what you have to do? You have to show love and respect,” Palton said. “The way we do that is to build students with strong moral character, instill values in you, that are upstanders and you speak up against bullying.”
Student Body President Evan Zhu reiterated how honored the school was to kickoff the iconic event, and shared his hopes to continue being leaders in kindness and anti-bullying.
“Our goal is to create a safe environment for all students so they can learn in a place that feels like a second home and standing up against bullying is part of that process,” shared the eighth grader.
The event also included speeches Theresa and Ariel from the Third Grade Kindness Club, and Amelia, a representative from the Student Council.
William G. Wilcox (PS/I.S. 48) in Concord hosted the kickoff event for the tenth annual campaign, where District Attorney Michael E. McMahon emphasized how childhood bullying can lead to criminal conduct in adulthood. The event also included speeches from Theresa and Ariel from the Third Grade Kindness Club.Nicolette Cavallaro | Staten Island Advance/SILive.com
William G. Wilcox (PS/I.S. 48) in Concord hosted the kickoff event for the tenth annual campaign, where District Attorney Michael E. McMahon emphasized how childhood bullying can lead to criminal conduct in adulthood. Student Body President Evan Zhu shared how honored the school was to host the event, and shared his hopes to continue being leaders in kindness and anti-bullying.Nicolette Cavallaro | Staten Island Advance/SILive.com
Landon, a seventh grader who participated in the competition in 2025, shared his motivation to address the issue again.
“I wrote my essay on how people last year bullied the kids that weren’t as popular as the other ones that bullied,” shared the young student council leader. “I want to write about this again because the same problem is happening this year again.”
Landon also participates in the Student Council’s anti-bullying projects, such as Kindness Fridays.
“We do work on anti-bullying. We do not tolerate it at all and we work against it,” he shared.
Samuel, a fifth grader, also participated in the campaign in 2025 and focused his previous essay on how bullying makes people feel.
“My essay was talking about how we can stop bullying and what happens and how people feel when they get bullied,” he told the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com. “When you are bullied, you are almost terrified to come to school.”
William G. Wilcox (PS/I.S. 48) in Concord hosted the kickoff event for the tenth annual campaign, where District Attorney Michael E. McMahon emphasized how childhood bullying can lead to criminal conduct in adulthood.Nicolette Cavallaro | Staten Island Advance/SILive.com
As a member of the Collaborative Community Between Students, also known as ‘CUBS,’ Samuel focuses on many ways the younger students can improve the school. During last year’s event, he shared his hopes to start a weekly anti-bullying circle or peer mediation.
Contest Information
Students across Staten Island are encouraged to enter the contest.
The contest is open to all students enrolled in Staten Island schools. Students must showcase their feelings regarding respect and tolerance for everyone by expressing their opposition to bullying through writing or art.
One first-place winner and one runner-up will be selected per grade. Each participant and parent will be invited to attend the award ceremony on March 31, 2026 at the College of Staten Island’s Williamson Theatre.
The deadline for submissions is March 13, 2026. All submissions must be sent to the office of the Richmond County District Attorney in St. George, either by mail or email, Agnes.McBeth@rcda.nyc.gov.