Lately, though, school has become a daily firewalk for the 12-year-old who has become a favourite target for classroom gossip, rumours, name-calling and the frequent butt of hurtful pranks.

"She's gone from loving school to hating her school," said mother Amy.

Girls she once considered friends harass her in the classroom, on the bus, in the schoolyard and online. Classmates ruin her art project when the teacher's back is turned. They yank the chair away when she goes to sit down.

"She was telling me how scared she was to go to school," her concerned mother revealed. "She no longer stays at school for lunch. She comes home for lunch because she's not comfortable staying."

They call her "fat" and "ugly." She's followed home and teased along the way. Others are pressured and intimidated into ostracizing her.

"I used to have a bunch of friends and I don't have friends now," the young girl cried. "I'm nothing like I used to be. I'm not happy."

They call her a "f@#$king bitch and whore" during online conversations among classmates on MSN. Neither school nor home provide sanctuary from the constant barbs that tear at her self-esteem.

She has been labelled a snitch for telling her mother, who contacted the principal and other parents to complain. Megan sees no escape from this painful daily existence. Her cry for help brings the same misery as silence.

Megan is a student at a Brampton elementary school. Her name and mother's name have been changed because they fear revealing the girl's identity could do more harm than good. The kind of social terrorism she endures is designed to isolate victims or drive them into self-imposed exile. It is also far too common among adolescents.

Some schools are attempting to transform existing school culture that makes Megan's experience a universal tale.

The pink T-shirts and boas worn by students, staff and visiting police officers at Fletcher's Creek Senior Public School add colour to the playful and rowdy goings on in that school's gymnasium. On the surface, the scene could be a pep rally for any of the school's athletic teams. But the music, singing and teacher Jell-O eating contest are part of the school's fight against bullying.

This is the school's second annual Stand Up Day. International Stand Up to Bullying Day is a bi-annual event held at schools across the globe. Participants wear and sign pink pledge T-shirts to take a public, visible stand against bullying.

T-shirts read: Today I have an obligation. No longer will I be silent if you need help... I got your back.

"Are you ready to let your voices be heard," Teacher Amy Smith asked the auditorium filled with about 800 students. "If one person can change the world, imagine what 800 can do."

This year's rally culminated a series of events during the month that raised student awareness about bullying and encouraged them to become active participants in eradicating the behaviour within school and community. According to Smith, students who were once afraid, have come forward to take a stand and bullies have stepped forward to ask for help.

The focus is building a "heart of compassion" for others, explained Principal Anne Ottley.

"It's built a culture of trust and safety where our students can feel safe about talking about incidents," she explained.

A pink box sits on the main office counter. The Bravery Box invites students to anonymously submit the names of schoolmates seen standing up for others. Students who take a stand are publicly recognized and celebrated. The box can also be used to anonymously report a bullying incident.

Pink Day is celebrated once a month to ensure the anti-bullying message is a permanent part of school culture. The efforts are intended to make students collectively intolerant of bullying and inaction socially unacceptable. Events and activities are fun, but focussed on lighting a social justice flame in students.

"It was a lot of fun and made people realize they're getting bullied or they are bullies," said 10-year-old Arunoshi Singh of the rally. "If they don't realize (they are bullies) they're going to keep on doing it. I realize that at times I can be a bully and maybe I should be more careful when I'm about to laugh at people."

Others like 11-year-old Noorkamal Gill walk away with the confidence she would not be standing alone if she stood up to a bully. Creating fellowship is key to making real change in school culture. The fear that allows bullying to flourish and prevents kids from taking action does not exist if a student feels they have an entire student body behind them, said Const. Phil Longden, with 22 Division's Neighbourhood Policing Unit.

Keeping schools safe is a job police cannot do without students and teachers as partners, suggested Const. Steve Martin, and this proactive approach pays great dividends.