The first week of October is designated as New Jersey’s Week of Respect. New Jersey school districts recognize the importance of developing and maintaining positive school climates, and providing students with a safe and supportive school environment devoid of harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) and encourages academic success and increased social and emotional competence. All schools participated in activities to recognize the importance of social and emotional learning and character education.
Here are some highlights in words and pictures:
In keeping with its Bradford CARES values, there was an emphasis on respect in school-wide activities and classroom discussions. Students signed a RESPECT banner by the kitchen. Class discussions about respect and what it looks like in classrooms, homes, cafeteria, etc. were held. Students got to wear sweatpants, because it’s “no sweat” to show respect; their favorite superhero shirt, as discussions were held how to make the world a better place as a superhero; and school spirt wear in Bradford colors (blue and yellow) to show respect for classmates, teachers, and school staff.
Bullock started every day during the Week of Respect with a morning announcement centering on respect, kindness, listening, and empathy. Every student was encouraged to do one good deed that day to show respect to someone else. Throughout the week, students brainstormed different ways respect can look like, sound like, and feel like. These ideas were written on chart paper and hung in the hallways for everyone to see. Every student also wrote on cut-out stars the ways they show respect; the stars were hung on Bullock’s cafeteria bulletin board. In addition, each grade made a kindness card to show gratitude to different staff members in our building. These cards were presented to the staff members during Bullock’s “All School Morning Meeting” on Friday. Finally, during morning meeting, the students and staff concluded the week by singing the Respect Song as a school community.
Students listened to morning announcements from their peers about respect and kindness. Teachers planned respect-themed activities. Students and staff wore green on Thursday, Oct. 4 to symbolize courage, resiliency, and respect. All students participated in the Respect Advisory in preparation for the Week of Respect activities. This advisory helped students define respect through video clips, experiential activities and discussion. Respect was applied to the concept of cultural diversity. The concept of empathy was a focus as students were taught how to use a paraphrase in order to convey empathy towards others. In addition, Buzz Aldrin was treated to an inspiring presentation by Eric LeGrand.
Edgemont
Students and staff were encouraged to come together to promote school spirit and positive peer interactions. For “Stomp Out Bullying” Day, the school community wore blue to pledge to stomp out bullying. They showed that everyone counts by wearing a jersey or shirt with a number on it.
On Edgemont’s regular Walk, Bike, Bus to School and Spirit Day everyone showed their school spirit by wearing Edgemont spirit wear. “No Drama Pajama Day,” was an effort to put name calling to bed by wearing pajamas to school, while displaying crazy socks was in support of “Sock it to Bullying.”
Glenfield
Let RESPECT Reign! The entire month, Glenfield is asking the question: “What is RESPECT?” to start meaningful conversations and reflection around this very important concept. It is a schoolwide effort in taking time out to consider the way we treat ourselves and others to promote behavior with intention. During DEAR classes, students were given the opportunity to contemplate experiences and associated feelings where they have been on the receiving end of respect, as well as the receiving end of disrespect. Students were then asked the question of the month, “What is RESPECT?” Their answers were featured on the cafeteria wall to serve as a visual reminder to act with intention. Pillars were also designed in the front hallway to represent the attributes of character as a permanent installment. Lastly, Peer Partnerships created a vehicle for students to start to become self-reflective and mentor other students.
Hillside
During the Week of Respect, Morning Announcements included a daily Words of Wisdom, accompanied by a brief music selection. The school “showed that everyone counts” by wearing a jersey or shirt that has a number on it and how to be a buddy and “Sock it to Bullying” by wearing crazy socks. On School Spirit Day, everyone was encouraged to wear Hillside garb. A “Let’s Have a Voice” poster contest was held. In her message to families, Principal Samanthaa Anglin said, “We encourage all of you to have open and honest conversations with your children regarding the choices they make and their role as members of our school community and town. Please encourage your children to be up-standers and report incidents that they see or that may have happened to them.”
Montclair High School observed the NJ Week of Respect through multiple events during the week. On Monday, MHS students participated in a Blue-Out for World Anti-Bullying Day. Students were encouraged to wear blue to celebrate. All week, Daily Quotes around respect and kindness were shared with the school community during announcements. Daily Challenges were given to students to empower them to create a positive school culture focusing on gratitude, kindness, and respect. At the end of the week, students were encouraged to write a yearly commitment to create a respectful community. The students’ commitments are displayed on a bulletin board in the Annex Atrium.
Students and staff were invited to show their respect throughout the week by wearing things according to each day’s theme: something colorful to “Throw Kindness Around like Confetti,” orange for “Orange You Glad We’re Bully Free,” sports shirts and jerseys to “Team Up Against Bullying,” blue to “Stomp Out Bullying” and Nishuane gear to support “Nishuane Rocks Respect.” In addition to watching morning meeting videos, classes discussed examples of respect, ways to show respect at school, at home and in the community. They did read-alouds, drew ways to show respect to themselves and others and created acrostic poems. Each homeroom created a poster about how to show respect in a designated area of our school. These posters will be laminated and hung up in the designated spots in order to serve as a reference/reminder for the students. During recess, students wrote words/drew pictures on the blacktop in chalk to “Chalk it up to Respect.”
Northeast School celebrated the Week of Respect with morning announcements that included words of wisdom, all about different ways to show respect to set the tone for the day. Each day, the school community was asked to dress up for varying themed days, like “Say Peace Out to Bullying” by wearing tie dye clothing. During morning meeting, discussions involved what respect looks like and sounds like. These discussions were brought out to the blacktop during recess, where students decorated the walkways with chalk. Northeast believes respect shouldn't just be dedicated to one week, so the focus on RESPECT continued all month with more activities.
Renaissance
Renaissance made an announcement each morning centered around respect. Additionally, the Student Assistance Counselor distributed schoolwide lessons that teachers covered each day during advisories. The first School Spirit Day encouraged students and staff to wear Renaissance Spirit Wear in the school’s colors, blue and white. During lunch on Oct. 4, there was music and students made statements over the speaker system related to how they feel people can respect one another.
Watchung
Following the school’s “Kindness Week,” Watchung continued to support the theme of respect. Each morning, students heard a “tip of the day,” and the Student Assistance Counselor gave lessons on respect. A month-long poster contest, “Respect: Give It. Get It” is ongoing.