Pink Power!
Feb 23, 2016
We’re in the pink! Pink was the colour of choice on Wednesday, February 24 at Lakehead Public Schools. Pink Shirt Day, a nationally recognized event to confront stereotypes will be celebrated by the students in numerous schools throughout the day.
The day originated in Nova Scotia, where a boy wore a pink shirt to school on his first day of Grade 9 and was harassed because of it. Several students in his school decided to stand up for their fellow student by asking other students to wear pink the next day. The show of solidarity stopped the bullying and helped this student feel safe coming to school.
“Our students and staff of this Board continue to demonstrate their support of this initiative in many creative and diverse ways,” says Todd Miller, Principal of Algonquin Avenue Public School and Chair of the Equity and Inclusion Working Committee. “There is no room for injustice at Lakehead Public Schools and events like this clearly demonstrate how our staff and students feel about bullying and discrimination.”
Pink Day was supported at the following schools on Wednesday, February 24:
Hammarskjold High School
12:15 – 12:50
Outside the cafeteria
Students attending Hammarskjold High Schools students arrived at school on Wednesday, February 24 to discover paper pink shirt cut outs with inspirational messages posted all over the school.
Other Pink activities included:
- the homeroom wearing the most pink won a Persian party
- the person wearing the most pink won a prize
- there was a “guess the number of pink gumballs” competition
- students could have their nails and their face painted pink by Cosmetology students.
- anyone who previously didn’t sign the anti-bullying pledge during anti-bullying week were encouraged to
- teachers were provided with “kindness is one size fits all” stickers to place on their doors permanently
Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute
On Pink Shirt Day, Superior CVI students decorated a Pink Shirt Day Table in the front foyer from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and again during the lunch hour. The table had staff and representatives from the Superior Gay-Straight Alliance.
In addition, there was:
- Superior Day of Pink T-shirts for sale, at cost or less
- A Day of Pink banner was made and was posted on the front foyer, and everyone was encouraged to sign it with a pledge.
- A Pink Gift Basket (or baskets) was raffled off.
- A Pink-themed bake sale
Nor’wester View Public School
Kick off – 8:45 a.m.
Stations – 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Nor’wester View Public School students celebrated all things Pink on Wednesday, February 24. The students travelled to specially set up centres throughout the school focused on friendship, inclusion and anti-bullying. Some activities included friendship bracelets, partner games, iPad activities, slogan strips (each student creates a slogan on pink paper to promote inclusion/friendship etc), team games in the gym, pink cookies at the refreshment station with pink lemonade. And everyone was all decked out in Pink!
Sir Winston Churchill Collegiate and Vocational Institute
12:15 p.m. to 12:50 p.m.
Students and staff at Sir Winston Churchill Collegiate and Vocational Institute observed Pink Shirt Day on Wednesday, February 24. The day began with special Pink Shirt Day announcements that explained the significance of the day and the impact of bullying. A special banner was available for students to sign in support of an anti-bullying pledge.
Ogden Community Public School
1:15 p.m.
Ogden Community Public School hosted a Day of Pink which was coupled with the monthly Character Education Assembly.
Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute
12:20 p.m. to 12:50 p.m.
Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute students were able to sign an anti-bullying pledge on a rainbow triangle, partake in some music and enjoy Pink popcorn. A Homeroom Challenge was issued for the class wearing the most Pink. The winning homeroom winner had access to a Persian Party on Thursday, February 25.
