NORFOLK — Principal Michelle Kreuzer is pleased to share that King Philip Middle School brought students and staff together for two days of learning, reflection and community building as part of its Unity Day celebration during National Bullying Prevention Month.
Unity Day, observed on Oct. 22, is the signature event of National Bullying Prevention Month, encouraging schools across the country to stand united in promoting kindness, acceptance and inclusion.
At KPMS, students and staff wore orange to convey a visible message of solidarity to anyone who has experienced bullying, reaffirming the school’s commitment to creating an environment where every student feels safe and supported.
That morning, the Student Council greeted peers with messages of hope written in orange chalk along the school’s walkways. In the cafeteria, students added their names to a No Place for Hate pledge banner, which now hangs in the main hallway.
The following week, on Oct. 29, KMPS held a schoolwide series of lessons designed by the Unity Day Committee: Ms. Barry, Ms. Morrison, Mr. Michael and Ms. Burch. Teachers led activities that helped students define what bullying is and how to distinguish it from teasing or conflict. The activity included a period of reflection for students to consider their role in fostering a more inclusive school culture.
Students explored a range of topics, including the value of diversity, how to support a peer who is targeted and how to step back and think before reacting. They participated in scenario-sorting exercises, discussed the meaning of exclusion and concluded the day with a mindfulness practice.
Students also created a schoolwide feather visual project, “As a Warrior I…,” a visual reminder of the school community’s collective responsibility and the strength of standing together against bullying.
KPMS asked students to participate in a voluntary survey on the Unity Day events, and student feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Students identified the “Odd One Out” activity and the “Stop and Think” game as two of the most meaningful parts of their experience. The activities encouraged students to consider the emotional impact of being left out and the importance of pausing before speaking or acting.
KPMS plans to submit this year’s Unity Day experience as one of its three schoolwide activities for the Anti-Defamation League’s No Place for Hate designation. The school earned the designation last year and hopes to receive it again for the 2025-26 academic year.
“Our students showed real thoughtfulness during these activities, and that matters,” said Principal Kreuzer. “Unity Day is one more way we help our students understand their impact on one another and what it means to create a school community where everyone feels they belong. This work continues every day in our classrooms and in the hallways.”
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