The Newark Board of Education (NBOE) kicked off the first week of October in full support of the Week of Respect! NBOE schools across the district enhanced their educational programs by incorporating lessons, activities, and events that focused on the importance of bullying prevention and awareness. Many elementary schools tailored lessons to teach students how to be upstanders- a person who speaks or acts in support of an individual or cause. Through SEL activities, students are taught to be one who intervenes on behalf of a person being attacked or bullied.
At McKinley Elementary School, students wore blue during Week of Respect activities to signify unity in standing up to bullying. At the high school level, students and staff from Newark School of Data Science & Information Technology created an interactive bulletin board where school community members could take words of kindness and share words of encouragement. All of the lessons and activities encouraged students and staff to work together as a community to create a positive and nurturing culture and climate within their building.