119 Ga. schools 'Mix It Up at Lunch' to battle bullying | Schools

(WXIA) -- More than 100 schools across Georgia will participate in this year's National Mix It Up at Lunch Day.

The annual event is sponsored by the Southern Poverty Law Center and was created in recognition of National Bullying Prevention Month. Roughly 6,000 schools nationwide are expected to participate.

"Mix It Up is a positive step that schools can take to help create learning environments where students see each other as individuals and not just as members of a separate group," said Maureen Costello, director of the SPLC's Teaching Tolerance project. "When people step out of their cliques and get to know someone, they realize just how much they have in common."

On National Mix It Up at Lunch Day, students are asked to sit with new friends in the cafeteria. Its goal is to foster understanding and respect among young people.

Participating schools in metro Atlanta include:

Atlanta
* Atlanta Charter MS
* Drew Charter School
* Galloway School
* Grady HS
* Howard School
* Ivy Preparatory Young Men's Leadership Academy
* Miles ES
* North Atlanta HS
* Sutton MS

Barrow County
* Auburn ES

Bartow County
* Adairsville HS
* Georgia Highlands College (Cartersville Campus)

Carroll County
* University of West Georgia

Clayton County
* Mt. Zion HS
* Mundy's Mill MS

Cobb County
* Campbell HS
* Campbell MS
* Cobb County Safety Village
* Garrett MS
* Hightower Trail MS
* Hillgrove HS
* Lindley Sixth Grade Academy
* Palmer MS
* Riverside IS
* Simpson MS

Coweta County
* Evans MS
* Madras MS
* Western ES

DeKalb County
* Chamblee Charter HS
* Champion Middle Theme School
* Global Village Project
* International Community School
* Northwoods Montessori School
* Stephenson HS
* Tucker MS

Douglas County
* Factory Shoals ES
* Factory Shoals MS
* Lithia Springs Comprehensive HS

Floyd County
* Coosa MS

Fulton County
* Brookview ES
* Fulton Leadership Academy
* Holy Innocents' Episcopal School
* Hopewell MS
* Milton HS
* Pearl Sutton Religious School of Gesher L'Torah
* Queen of Angels Catholic School
* Roswell North ES
* Sandy Springs MS
* St. John the Evangelist Catholic School
* Taylor Road MS
* Tri-Cities HS
* Village Montessori School

Griffin-Spalding County
* A.Z. Kelsey Academy
* Cowan Road MS
* Griffin HS
* Spalding HS

Gwinnett County
* Bay Creek MS
* Chesney ES
* Duluth MS
* Georgia Gwinnett College
* Grace Snell MS
* Ivy Preparatory Academy
* Lawrenceville ES
* Richards MS

Hall County
* Gainesville MS
* Wood's Mill HS

Henry County
* Bethlehem ES
* Luella MS
* Red Oak ES
* Stockbridge MS
* Walnut Creek ES

Lumpkin County
* University of North Georgia

Newton County
* Ficquett ES
* Indian Creek MS
* Mansfield ES
* Newton College & Career Academy

Paulding County
* Burnt Hickory ES
* Dugan ES
* East Paulding HS
* McGarity ES
* Panter ES
* Shelton ES at Crossroad
* South Paulding MS

Pickens County
* Jasper MS

Rockdale County
* Memorial MS
* Salem HS

Walton County
* Carver MS