One day after yet another school shooting in California, Guardian Angels School on Friday took a stand against bullies by “unofficially” breaking the Guinness record for the world's largest group hug.

        With arms around each other, 1,088 students, staff and parents circled the football field on Beechmont Avenue in Mount Washington. (The record is 899 but the group won't know if it's officially broken until it hears from Guinness.)

Group huggers include the Sullivans: Tommy (left), mom Ellen, sister Maggie, 3, and Emily Sullivan, 5. (Mike Simons photo) | ZOOM |

        The group hug was part of Golden Rule Day, a kickoff to the school's new initiative to build respect among students and combat bullying — a common link found in school shooting investigations. Experts have discovered that most suspects were bullied.

        While the record would be nice, Guardian Angels students understood the real meaning behind the hug.

        “For once, there are good things about schools in the media,” said eighth-grader Tom Ryan, 14, of Anderson Township.

        Two years ago, teasing among Guardian Angels students prompted school officials to launch a Courtesy Code to encourage children to be kind to one another and polite to adults at school.

        “Over the last two years, we've been evaluating the Courtesy Code, and felt we still have to go a little bit further with the children because of some teasing occurring between the kids,” said Principal David Reker.

        While bullying at the 850-student school hasn't increased since he was hired nine years ago, Mr. Reker said, it has more repercussions in 2001 than it did in the past.

        There's a fair amount of bullying at school, said Jason Whalen, 14, of Anderson Township.

        “I think people take jokes and things too far. It has a long-term effect. You remember the first time somebody said something about your appearance.”

        Christine Mezher, 14, an eighth-grader from Anderson Township, said when kids are bullied, “It lowers their self-esteem and makes them feel secluded from everything.”

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