ISD 166 recognizes "Unity Day" with poster contest

October 24 was “Unity Day” at School District 166, students and staff were asked to recognize “Unity Day” by wearing orange. The school also hosted a contest, asking students to design a poster with an anti-bullying message.

Fifty students took the challenge and created a wonderful gallery of positive messages in the school hallway. A number of posters stood out for recognition and they are:
1st place: Kajsa and Julia, fourth grade, with their “Show your Kindness” poster
2nd place: Wyatt, Max, August and Aubrey, second grade, with their “Bully Free Galaxy” poster
3rd place: Jenessa, Sophia, Elizabeth and Lucas, second grade, with a poster titled “Respect.”

Congratulations to all of the student winners and to all who participated in Unity Day activities.

Unity Day was developed by the PACER, the National Bullying Prevention Center.

Paula Goldberg, executive director of the PACER Center explains why PACER chose orange as the color representing its anti-bullying message, “Orange provides a powerful, visually compelling expression of solidarity. Whether it’s hundreds of individuals at a school wearing orange, store owners offering orange products, or a community changing a landmark to orange, the vibrant statement becomes a conversation starter, sending the supportive, universal message that bullying is never acceptable behavior.”

Principal Megan Myers invited everyone at the school to “wear and share orange” that day. Myers said, “Here at Cook County Schools each and every one of you matter. Let’s each do our part in putting an end to bullying by reaching out and saying hello to someone new, standing up when someone is mistreated, and overall being kind to each other.”

Photos courtesy of School District 166