TOPPENISH - Students at Lincoln Elementary got a valuable message about dealing with bullying, delivered in a memorable, yet whimsical and engaging way, when Oochee’s Clowning Connection came to the school Feb. 11.
Oochee, otherwise know as Maureen Mould, of Yakima, is a 32-year educational veteran, who has worked as a teacher, trainer, and administrator in special education, and early childhood and therapeutic recreation.
She was accompanied by Kathy “Tootlelou” and Linda “Sassie” in the Lincoln presentation called “Bloomin’ Buddies.”
The show incorporates the colorful costumes and antics of the clowns, as well as a variety of props that help reinforce the message of the presentation.
Mould said her bullying prevention assembly, which she wrote and produced, has been presented to about 58,000 children over the last five years, and she has presented it as far away as New Orleans.
With the support of organizations such as the Zonta Club of the Yakima Valley, which sponsored the Lincoln show, Mould and her clowning associates have been able to present her message to many students at no charge to the schools.
She said other sponsors have included Yakama Nations Legends Casino, Windermere Real Estate, and Yakima Theaters.
In addition to the 45-minute Bloomin’ Buddies show, Mould said she also does a show about safety and about diabetes and diabetes management.
The anti-bullying steps taught to the students are presented in both English and Spanish, and reinforce a research-based violence-prevention curriculum called Second Step.
Mould said she makes adjustments and “tweaks” to her program each year to keep it as topical as possible.
Most recently, she has added a small segment that addresses the issue of cyber bullying, she said.
Mould is also the founder and executive director of Kaleidoscope Konnections, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to offering presentations that teach and encourage.
Kaleidoscope Konnections can be reached at 509-452-2296, and maintains a web site at www. kaleidoscope connections.com.