Ariana Rohr, front, and her friend Abby Helman look over the banner Wawasee High School art students did to support her after her home was vandalized by bullies

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — In less than 24 hours, students at Wawasee High School created a banner of support for one of their own whose home was vandalized by bullies recently.

Art teacher Christi Ziebarth didn’t realize the extent of the damage until she took a different route home and drove by the student’s house earlier this week. Determined to do something, she put a plan in motion.

First she told her husband she needed his tractor tarp, which was once a billboard poster. “Teachers know how to find resources,” she said. She put the tarp in her car and stopped by the student’s home the next day just as her dad, Clayton Rohr, was pulling in from a trip to Kentucky. After hearing what she wanted to do, he said yes.

Her next task was to request permission from WHS Principal Geoff Walmer to go forward with the project. He said yes.

Her students pushed the furniture out of the way in her classroom and with paint and a lot of heart went to work Wednesday, Sept. 27. Thursday morning, Sept. 28, the banner went up in the commons for other students to sign with messages of support.

Ziebarth’s class gently pulled the banner down, carried it outside where it was coated with a quick dry lacquer so it will hold up to the elements. “Painting is only for beauty,” Ziebarth yelled, encouraging her students to repeat the mantra.

Greyson Tuura, far right, and WHS art teacher Christi Ziebarth coat the banner with lacquer to protect it from the elements.

Led by Walmer, the students carried the banner to the Rohr home where, with help from Clayton, it was hung over the graffiti. The banner covers all of the vandalism.

“I think this speaks volumes,” Rohr told the students. “I wish kids were like this when he (Walmer) and I were in school. You guys did a great job.” Rohr and Walmer were classmates in Warsaw.

“I know you know this is special,” Walmer said. “I know you poured your hearts into this. …Ten years ago from now, you’ll realize (just) how special this is,” Walmer told the students.

“I think it’s amazing to see all the love,” Clayton said. He explained he hasn’t been able to remove the graffiti because he had to a police report. The vandals used spray paint designed to fuse to plastic, so the vinyl siding has to be replaced.

Abby Helman, a friend of Clayton’s daughter, Ariana, who has been bullied, brought her home to see the banner. She spent several minutes looking it over and reading the various messages her fellow students left on it.

WHS students move the banner in place so it can be hung to cover the vandalism.

“This banner is amazing. I will appreciate it forever,” she said. She said she also appreciated all of the support she’s received from the community since the news broke about the vandalism.

“Choose kindness. There’s no reason to be rude. In five months, five years this isn’t going to matter. We’ll be out of high school,” she said about the bullying.

Noting she hadn’t had any interactions with the students suspected of the vandalism, Ariana said she felt “the bullying is to get power. It’s ridiculous. It’s selfish. I never did anything to them.”

Ariana also wanted to make sure the community knew how much she appreciated the gifts, cards and care packages people sent to her. “It’s amazing,” she said. “This will definitely be in the history of the house and this school.”

Clayton explained their home dates back to 1850 and was the second home built in Turkey Creek Township. He’s done extensive research on the families who have lived in the home since it was built.

Clayton echoed his daughter, stating a bully’s power is secrecy, and he expects his daughter’s bullies to be outed very soon.