Briarcliff High School Honors Dr. King at Schoolwide Assembly

From the Briarcliff Manor schools

The Briarcliff High School community came together for a Stand Together assembly on Jan. 15, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday.

Students involved with Stand Together Against Racism, Student Coalition for Human Dignity, the student government and the chorus encouraged their peers to make a positive impact on the school community and greater world.

“The theme of the assembly is ‘What’s going on?’” said Briarcliff High School Principal Debora French. “We are counting on you to make things better.”

Students involved in the assembly’s planning said the purpose wasn’t only to raise awareness about racism, but to encourage everyone to be upstanders inside and out of the school.

“It’s important in a country where we are made up of many different races, colors and sizes that we all accept each other, not just tolerate one another,” said S.T.A.R. treasurer Samylda Charles, a junior.

Students wore the school’s colors – orange and blue – to appear unified during the assembly.

“With so many things happening in the news recently, with the Ebola and now with the situation in Paris, a lot of it does have to do with the clashing of cultures,” said Student Coalition for Human Dignity representative and junior Paul Radovanovich. “I feel like if someone doesn’t step up to talk about it, no one will. I feel like that’s our duty. I think it’s important for us to realize it has to be stopped as soon as possible.”

Visit the Briarciff Manor Union Free School District website, www.briarcliffschools.org, to view a video from the assembly.

Photos/contributed

caption: Students representing Briarcliff High School Student Council encouraged their peers to promote equality in the school and beyond.

caption: The students, teachers and administrators involved with Briarcliff High School’s Stand Together assembly on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday.