This year, Unity Day and Wellness Day both fall on Oct. 22. Wellness Day is a Schreiber event, while Unity Day is celebrated in schools all over the country. However, both events remind students of the importance of building a kind, safe, and supportive community at Schreiber.
Wellness Day places a focus on mental health and relaxation by allowing students and teachers to spend time taking part in various enjoyable activities. It was created by Ms. Meghan Harding—one of the health teachers at Schreiber—to benefit students’ overall wellness and to promote a stronger Schreiber community by giving students and teachers a chance to bond over fun activities. This year marks the third celebration of Wellness Day, which has become an annual Schreiber tradition.
On Wellness Day, periods are shortened in order to make available two extra hours at the end of the day for Wellness Day activities. There are a variety of activities to choose from, spanning from intense physical activity to more meditative pursuits. Some of the options this year include volleyball, beaded bracelets, and book club. The aim of the organizers is that every student can enjoy an activity that will allow them to unwind from the stress of school.
“I really love art and I’m so happy that they have stuff like making bracelets and coloring to do. I love that there are activities I really enjoy and it’s not just athletic activities,” said junior Grayson Marrinan.
Students signed up for two different hour-long sessions on Student Square. The number of spots available for each offering was listed, making it easy for students to choose open spots and coordinate with friends accordingly. As in years past, Wellness Day is a collaboration among many teachers and administrators, with the help of some students who run events as facilitators—even getting extra credit in some classes for doing so.
“I really like how wellness days were created in the last few years, and have so many options of stuff to do. I love having one or two days a year where I can just chill with my friends and do something I enjoy,” said sophomore Kyle Forman.
Unity Day, however, is the signature event of National Bullying Prevention Month, and was created by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center in Oct. 2011. On Unity Day, which typically occurs on the third or fourth Wednesday of National Bullying Prevention Month, participating schools encourage students to “wear and share” the color orange.
According to PACER, orange was chosen for its distinctive hue: it is a color associated with the month and the season, a color associated with safety and visibility, and a color that is warm and inviting, while still making a strong statement. On Unity Day, the bright orange posters, t-shirts, and other items of clothing are supposed to serve as a visible representation that, as PACER describes it, “our society wants to prevent bullying, build commUNITY and is united for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.”
To mark the occasion of Unity Day at Schreiber, the ground by the main entrance is colored with chalk by different clubs. During the school day, orange rubber bracelets are handed out in the lobby. As Wellness Day winds down, students can head to the track for Unity Day’s culminating event: the track walk. Unity Day at Schreiber this year is run by Physical Education teacher Ms. Lisa Castaldo and Social Worker Mr. Jose Mejia.
“Unity Day takes a ton of planning and coordination with both students and staff, who we always ask to show solidarity by wearing orange and taking part in the Unity Day walk. This year was a little bit more complicated since Unity Day falls on Wellness Day, but it was a huge success. We had an amazing turnout after school, and we thank the students for partaking in the walk and showing support for a great cause,” said Mr. Mejia.
People from all over the community come together to walk two laps around the track, symbolizing unity in the Port Washington community. Many different sports teams and local elected officials come to the track for the walk, along with District administrators and members of the Board of Education.
“I really like the track walk. I really like the feeling of everyone coming together and being a part of something with a common idea. I’ve done the walk with my team in the past and I feel like part of a community during it,” said junior Katherine Trainor.
This year, the track walk will mark the end of a full day spent building a strong community at Schreiber, with Wellness Day and Unity Day giving students and faculty members the opportunity to build relationships with each other, spreading kindness and compassion.