Click on the above image for more photos of Unity Day activities.
October 23, 2024 — Students across the Westonka district celebrated Unity Day, participating in activities aimed at spreading kindness, promoting unity, and combating bullying. Unity Day is the signature event of National Bullying Prevention Month, also celebrated in October. The key message of this event is for students to wear orange as a tangible representation of the supportive, universal message that our society wants to prevent bullying, and that it is united for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.
Grandview Middle School students celebrated Unity Day on Oct. 14. In addition to wearing orange, students committed to the “steps” they were going to take to help make GMS a better place. Students participated in a Morning Meeting activity that involved each student writing their intentions to stop bullying on footprints that were displayed around the cafeteria as a reminder.
Unity Day at Hilltop Primary School was a day when all the students were encouraged to wear orange to put on display their commitment to kindness and respect for others. Teachers did many class activities to put an emphasis on acceptance of differences and respect for others. They also had a "kindness in chalk" activity where students shared messages tied to kindness, acceptance and respect as students walked into school that morning.
Students at Shirley Hills Primary School took part in various activities to celebrate kindness. Each grade took a class picture and signed the picture on a poster to display outside their classroom to show their commitment to putting an end to bullying. Students earned kindness slips to create a kindness chain displayed in the main hallway of the school. Third-graders made peace pinwheels and displayed them in front of the school. Students also wore orange for Unity Day to show that they are “Together Against Bullying & United for Kindness, Acceptance and Inclusion.” All the students gathered outside for a group photo in the shape of a heart.
Students at Mound Westonka High School celebrated “Be the Change,” an event which the Student Senate started at MWHS about 10 years ago to create positive changes and a school culture that is inclusive and accepting. The event now also recognizes Mental Health Awareness Week. This year’s event was held the week of October 21. MWHS Student Senate planned a week of activities that provided great ways to show simple acts of kindness, spread encouragement, and tips on maintaining good mental health.
Each day included a theme: Monday encouraged Digital Wellbeing with tips on how to maintain a healthy digital lifestyle. Tuesday’s shout-outs at lunch stressed the importance of Kindness. Students wore green on Wednesday to Be the Change. Mental Health was the focus on Thursday, which included a worry jar, mental health advice, and a gratitude wall. The week wrapped up on Future Friday, which gave seniors the opportunity to talk about their plans for the future.
Unity Day was created by the PACER organization. More information can be found at www.pacer.org/bullying/.
