Schools

Local Schools Join Bullying Prevention Campaign

Students and staff at Lake Washington High and Kirkland Middle School wore orange Wednesday in support of Unity Day.

Editor's Note: The following is a press release from the Lake Washington School District.

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Lake Washington School District (LWSD) joined in the national celebration of Unity Day, Oct. 10, to support the cause of bullying prevention. Part of PACER's National Bullying Prevention Month, students and staff at many schools wore orange to express their unity against bullying.

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Bus drivers in the district wore Unite Against Bullying T-shirts that were specially printed with “No bullying on my bus” on the back. During a training session last week, drivers worked together to come up with ways they can help ensure their buses are safe places for students.

At Lake Washington High School, students decorated the front of the school with anti-bullying posters and orange balloons. They handed out orange ribbons to every student and staff member, most of whom came to school dressed in orange. Later in the month, the school will hold a “Finding Kind” program for freshman and sophomore girls, aimed at ending female bullying.

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Kirkland Middle School will also extend their bullying prevention efforts, with a Rachel’s Challenge event on Oct. 16. This program reinforces the message of kindness and compassion. A community event will be held at the school from 7 to 8 p.m. that night.

"While all of our schools have bullying prevention and intervention programs,” noted Dr. Traci Pierce, superintendent, “it helps to take a specific day to reinforce the message that bullying is not acceptable in our schools. It may tell a student or a parent that it’s okay to report problems with bullying, harassment or intimidation. And it may remind bystanders that they can play a positive role by standing up for others or by reporting what they see.”


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