It's Unity Day & Week 2014 At Palo Alto Schools

News from the Palo Alto Unified School District:

October is National Bullying Prevention Month and PAUSD schools will participate in avariety of thought-provoking activities that help students appreciate diversity and unite in respect and support foreveryone.

Students focus on learning to respect differences and acting in kind, inclusive ways throughout their school year, but October will see additional activities especially during Unity Week (October 20-24) and Unity Day on October 23.

Unity Day is a national event started in 2006 by the Pacer National Bullying Prevention Center andhas grown each year as schools across the nation have joined the effort. The campaign has been recognized bynational education leaders and government organizations and is now celebrated across the country.

“By engaging our students in awareness activities at school and welcoming parents and our community to be part of Unity Day, we empower everyone and build a united voice of respect. We are pleased the City of Palo Alto will honor the day and its goals with a proclamation at their Council meeting this week,” said Dr. Glenn “Max” McGee,Superintendent.

Christina Schmidt, Unity Day Chair, said, “Through effective leadership and prevention strategies, we help our children identify what is inappropriate behavior and bullying, and we foster the understanding of how to be an ‘Upstander’ on campus, in the community, and on-line.”

Activities will range from school-wide unity chains, art projects, ability awareness and connection games, specialbook displays in the library, and posters across campuses where students can give examples of “Upstander”behavior and other ways to prevent bullying. Many of the students and adults participating in the day will bewearing orange, the official color for Unity Day in PAUSD.

Unity Day is jointly sponsored by Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD), Palo Alto Committee of SELPA 1 CAC, the PTA Council, Parent Advocates for Student Success (PASS), and the Student Equity Action Network(SEAN) and the LGBTQ Committee.

For a complete list of activities, please contact Tabitha Kappeler-Hurley at thurley@pausd.org.