Bellevue School District: BSD Schools Celebrate Unity Day

Bellevue WA

28 October, 2021

11:32 AM

Description

Press release from the Bellevue School District: October 27, 2021 Each year, BSD schools show that we stand together against bullying, united for kindness, acceptance and inclusion by observing Unity Day. Unity Day was created by PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center and highlights the need to educate students about anti-bullying and how to reach out, speak up and be a friend to one another. Students and staff are encouraged to wear orange and participate in special events and lessons to send a message that no child should ever experience bullying.  See how some of our schools participated this year:  Phantom Lake Elementary This year Phantom Lake Elementary celebrated unity with a rainbow theme. Each grade level had a different color in the rainbow, and students created our "Unity Rainbow" by decorating their shapes (people, hearts, and hands) and adding a message about how they could make someone feel included.  The school also held assemblies where each classroom presented a message about what "unity" means to their class.    Cherry Crest Elementary Students watched a video about the history of Unity Day and learned how to prevent bullying by being positive bystanders and upstanders. Students participated in the video by sharing how they can apply these lessons at Cherry Crest. Additionally, a Unity Day banner was created for students to sign.  Ardmore Elementary  All Ardmore students signed a Unity Day pledge to speak up, reach out and be a friend whenever they see bullying. Students designed leaves with pictures or words to show how they will help make Ardmore a bully-free school. Additionally, classes showed the movie, "Lou," a Pixar short film about the importance of kindness.  Eastgate Elementary  Students spun a kindness wheel for ideas on how they could be kind that day.  Enatai Elementary  Students participated in lessons centered around unity, kindness and citizenship.   Jing Mei Elementary Classes read "The Big Umbrella" and created "unity raindrops" for each classroom, where students shared ways that they will show unity and inclusion. The raindrops were placed under a big umbrella in the cafeteria.  Medina Elementary  Each grade had special unity-themed activities, including: painting rocks, decorating pennants, creating a unity tree, writing messages on pumpkins, beading bracelets, and creating hand artwork to show that "we all have a hand in uniting against bullying."  Spiritridge Elementary  Kindergarten Kings and Queens of Kindness were crowned, with students having the opportunity to make their own orange crowns.  Highland Middle  Students celebrated Unity Day Spirit Week with themed activities each day:   Monday: Put Bullying to Bed – wear comfy clothes or pajamas  Tuesday: Every eagle in the nest – wear Highland colors  Wednesday: Unity Day orange-out – wear orange for Unity Day  Thursday: Working together for a brighter future – dress in bright colors/shades  Friday: Team up against bullying – wear your favorite team gear  Wilburton Elementary  Students created a Unity Day feather art mural, where they wrote or drew one thing they could do to be kind to others. The school also hosted an assembly focused on kindness, acceptance and inclusion.    Share Your Stories  Did your school or student participate in Unity Day in a special way? Share it with us at [email protected]. This press release was produced by the Bellevue School District. The views expressed here are the author's own.