The halls of the Resilience Academy were a sea of orange for its celebration of Unity Day, part of National Bullying Prevention Month where students and staff wear orange to promote kindness, acceptance and inclusion. While this event was recognized nationally on Wednesday, Oct. 22, Resilience Academy decided to celebrate early, using their Flex Friday Oct. 17 to come together and wear orange as a fun end to their week.“Our hope in celebrating Unity Day is to empower students by giving them a voice,” said Christina Olson, member of the PBIS committee. “With a student body that reflects a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, Unity Day provides a meaningful opportunity to promote acceptance, empathy and a strong sense of community. By encouraging kindness and inclusion, we strive to ensure that every student feels seen, heard and valued, especially
those who may have felt marginalized or isolated in previous school environments.”
Students designed posters and built unity chains to display throughout the halls to reinforce their message of solidarity. The Community
Service Club prepared orange ribbons for teachers to display in or outside their classrooms and designed bulletin boards to raise awareness about bullying, the power of empathy and the importance of acceptance.
“Everyone here is different,” shared student Alexandra Varble. “You can see that on days like this. We all wear orange with our own uniqueness. Our personal flair.”
