On Wednesday, October 22nd, Bay View High School proudly celebrated Unity Day, an annual event dedicated to promoting kindness, acceptance and inclusion within our school community. Unity Day serves as a reminder that bullying is never acceptable and that every student deserves to feel safe at school, online, and in the community.
The purpose of Unity Day is to bring together students, parents and educators to emphasize the importance of standing up against bullying and supporting one another. The day’s message was simple yet powerful. “Being kind is free, Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. One person can make a difference, and everyone should try”.
Our Bay View students and staff showed their support by wearing and sharing orange, the official color of Unity Day. This is Bay view’s way of symbolizing solidarity and the commitment to creating a culture of respect and compassion. Even a small act like wearing orange can remind those who have experienced bullying that they are not alone and our Bay View community cares.
The Violence Free Zone (VFZ) organized special lunchtime activities to engage students in the celebration. These include a Unity Day poster for everyone to sign, snacks for those wearing orange, face painting by VFZ students and orange light-up sticks and wristbands. At the end of the day, all participating students gathered on the field to take Bay View’s annual “unity heart” photo, a symbolic moment of togetherness and school pride.
Bullying can take many forms, including physical, verbal, social/relational. And cyberbullying. Its effects can be long-lasting, impacting a person’s mental health, academic performance, and self-esteem. That’s why speaking up is so important. If you see or know someone being bullied or someone bullying others, say something. Your voice has the power to make a difference.
When we stand united against bullying, we create safer stronger schools and communities. Let’s remember that October is bullying prevention month, a time to raise awareness, show compassion and continue promoting kindness every day at Bay View High School.
