by Yealin Lee, staff reporter
Bullying has become a big issue throughout schools. This problem has been discussed many times by sites such as ‘Teen Talk’. Many ways to acknowledge this issue has been brought up. One way to help prevent bullying is to spread the awareness of it in order to make people take it seriously.
On Wednesday 22nd, Unity Day, the students of WJPS were given a choice to spread the awareness and prevent bullying by wearing orange. The purpose of this event was to help support against bullying and teach kids how to make a safe community and environment.
Taking another step towards Unity Day, Mrs. Paplow, who organized this event, prepared sticky notes with encouragement messages that were posted on each student’s locker.
“October is National Bullying Prevention month, it is a day for students to unite and prevent bullying,” guidance counselor Mrs. Paplow said.
National Bullying Prevention month was founded in 2006 by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. They have been trying to help kids who have been bullied and make people realize what it truly is in order to decrease the rates of bullying.
“There were similar ideas online and I thought it would be nice. I really wanted them to ‘pass it on’ and be kind to someone that day,” Mrs. Paplow said.
In response to this brand new event, many students seems to have a positive perspective of it.
“I think it was something that was needed here because schools are usually a place filled with negativity. It was a nice change,” junior Marcela Abanto said.
Unity Day is held once every year. This may not be much but students can take this day as a chance to spread the dangers of bullying and what they should do when being bullied.
“One kind word can change someone’s entire day,” Mrs. Paplow said.
