Pink Shirt Day 2024
SD83 schools will join thousands of others across Canada and the world recognizing Pink Shirt Day on Wednesday, February 28, 2024. Students and staff are showing their support for the anti-bullying movement by wearing pink, as well as by taking part in activities in SD83 schools.
Inspired by a simple act of kindness in a small Nova Scotian town, Pink Shirt Day has bloomed from its humble origins in 2007 into a global movement against bullying. The tradition is now being practiced in over 25 countries and has been recognized by the United Nations. Pink Shirt Day has become a global call-to-action as schools, communities, and workplaces are flooded with pink; uniting in kindness and in solidarity against bullying.
Director of Instruction Gillian Dawe-Taylor and Vice-Principal of Student Wellness Tanya Harrington note that the underlying goals for Pink Shirt Day also are part of SD83’s Strategic Plan, particularly Human and Social Development and the goal that each student will feel welcome, safe, and connected to peers and adults in their school.
“Pink Shirt Day is a time when we take a moment to pause and reflect on how we treat one another. Each year we highlight Pink Shirt Day at our schools as a reminder that kindness and acceptance matter – they matter to our mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Everyone wants to feel seen, heard, and valued,” explains Harrington.
Some of the Canadian programs promoting Pink Shirt Day, and kindness and inclusion, for all children are:
• CKNW Kids highlighting the theme of: “Lifting Each Other Up” https://www.pinkshirtday.ca/
• The WITS Program highlighting the theme of: “Sprinkle Kindness” https://pinkshirtdaycanada.ca/
“We all share the responsibility to ensure our schools and communities are safe spaces: preventing bullying wherever possible by creating positive connections and inclusive environments. Bullying is a complex issue that affects people of all ages. It can occur in workplaces, schools, communities, online – literally anywhere. It can cause fear, emotional harm, and physical, psychological, and social distress.” says Dawe-Taylor. “We are all role models; whatever role we play in our communities, our youth look to us. Let’s look beyond our differences and celebrate all the things that make us unique. Let’s lift each other up or sprinkle kindness wherever we can – simple acts of kindness can truly make a big change in anyone’s day.
Schools organize their own unique inclusion and kindness activities for Pink Shirt Day. “I would like to highlight digital safety and kindness for parents. The online world can be a landscape of “hidden” bullying since being behind a screen, people can often feel a step removed from their words to the person or persons receiving them,” explained Harrington.
Families have access to Digital Safety Sessions offered by ERASE BC (Expect Respect and Safe Education). There are also digital support information/websites available to help parents to start conversations with their kids about online safety and kindness. “Young people need support and tools to manage their well-being if they are going to be online,” Harrington adds.
Families are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the online safety information as well as the ERASE Report IT tool found on District and school websites. If bullying does occur it is important to address it quickly and provide support.
ERASE is all about building safe and caring school communities. This includes empowering students, parents, educators and the community partners who support them to get help with challenges, report concerns to schools, and learn about complex issues facing students.
Tools for digital safety for parents:
- Safer Schools Together – Social Media Parents Checklist: https://saferschoolstogether.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Social-Media-check-list-2018.pdf?x89820
- Cyberwise – Sample – Family Tech Agreement: https://www.cyberwise.org/_files/ugd/f6bccd_39673f595b7048f3811ea67ab7a2ae62.pdf
Anyone big or small, in-person or online, can be fighting a battle that you cannot see – and that is why at the heart of Pink Shirt Day is a simple message – Be Kind!