Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools elementary schoolers took a stand against bullying last week when students rallied to celebrate Unity Day.
Part of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Awareness campaign, Unity Day is a call for community for schools all over the country. Students and faculty are encouraged to wear orange and share their stories of how bullying has impacted their lives. The event helps everyone be a little bit more mindful of the various forms that bullying can take, which makes it easier to recognize it and call it out.
“The reason we do this is to bring awareness to our students about bullying – what it is, what it looks like, and how to stand agaisnt it,” said Petree Elementary School Principal Patrick Saddler.
Petree held a big pep rally on the morning of Unity Day featuring musical performances and testimonies from teachers and student council members. Other schools led parades full of bright orange signs with anti-bullying messages on them, including Speas Global Elementary School and Morgan Elementary School. Students who participated made it clear that bullying isn’t something they’re willing to accept, and they want to be part of the solution.
“A lot of people bully, and that’s not good,” said Morgan Third Grader Thiago Hernandez. “We have to defeat them.”
Stopping bullying requires complex action. Direct intervention when someone is in trouble is important, but so is creating an inclusive school atmosphere where everyone feels valued and knows that they have friends they can turn to when they have problems. Unity Day can go a long way towards establishing that culture, and it’s important to keep nurturing the spirit of inclusion all year long.
“It’s not only about today, but every day going forward,” said School Counselor Bettina Hayes. “Every day is a new chance to wake up and ask how you’re going to make a positive difference.”