"Sticks and stones may break my bones; but words will (always) hurt me."

That was one of the messages Jim Thorpe Area High School students received Wednesday during a presentation on cyber bullying.The presentation by Special Agent Janene Holter of the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, was the spring kickoff event for the school's Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.Holter, who has over a decade of experience working with drugs and bullying, spoke about the growing epidemic of cyber bullying, which can happen to anyone using cellphones and social media sites.She asked the students if they used social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram. Most said yes."Now think about those websites and think about why you are signing up and using them," she said, explaining that those sites store every post, photo or text that you send."Everything you type, text, tweet or post is there forever, even if you delete it. Those websites own your information. Think about that for a minute because something you think you deleted is not actually gone."Holter explained that there are possible consequences for actions online, including losing scholarships or employment opportunities.Schools and potential employers look at social media sites to see if you are a person they want representing them.She asked the students if they would feel comfortable with colleges looking at what they are posting; adding that currently she knows of four athletes in the state who lost their athletic scholarships because of the posts they made on social media sites."Don't think that it's not going to happen to me," Holter said."This presentation is to educate you and to make you think about what you are going to do with social networking and representing yourself online."She urged students to not send intimate photos because you never know where they will end up.A tale of two victimsHolter then showed a video about Gabriella, a bright seventh-grade student-athlete from West Chester. She was receiving texts and messages from a group of girls, calling her names and saying mean things.Instead of telling an adult, Gabriella took matters into her own hands and sent a message threatening the girls. She didn't mean it, but she wanted them to stop.Her message got her arrested and charged with terroristic threats, which will now follow her through the rest of her life.Holter explained that if Gabriella would have spoken up and told a teacher, coach, or parent, the outcome to this story would have been different."Victims are usually so upset that they forget they are in control of their own technology," she said. "Block the person if they are bullying you or talk to an adult. Responding back in a threatening manner could get you arrested."In a second video, Holter introduced the students to Debbie Johnston, the mother of Jeff.Jeff was bullied by one boy, whom he knew, and told his friends, but they did nothing except tell him to ignore the mean comments.Ultimately, Jeff committed suicide.Holter noted that there are numerous suicides reported in Pennsylvania as a result of bullying."If you see something online or hear something in the hallway that is not right, stand up for the individual," she said. "Victims need a voice and a hero to stand up for them and support them. Report it because you can save a life."Do somethingHolter urged the students to do something to make sure their school knocks out bullying."This is your school district, your community," she said. "You have to think about how you are shaping how you are going to treat each other for the rest of your time at this school. My suggestion is to treat each other with respect, even if you don't like that person."If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it. Don't text it. Don't type it. Don't tweet it. Don't post it," Holter continued. "You can change bullying at this school. Every single one of you has the tools to do that as long as you are nice to one another and report it if someone is not being nice. Shape the school and shape the next group of students that will come in. Make tough choices and decisions and be leaders to stop bullying."Coming up nextThe school has formed the Olweus committee which is dedicated to cutting down on bullying in the school.Tonight, at 6:30 p.m., the high school is showing the documentary film "Bully," which according to the film's website, "brings human scale to this startling statistic, offering an intimate unflinching look at how bullying has touched five kids and their families."For more, go to

https://sites.google.com/a/jtasd.org/olweus.