Unity Day 2019
UPSD Joins Organizations & Individuals Across the Country to Recognize Unity Day 2019
On October 23, 2019, the Upper Perkiomen School District participated in Unity Day, an event created by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, which encourages organizations and individuals to come together in one giant orange message of hope and support. Organizations and individuals and wear and share orange to visibly show that they believe that no child should ever experience bullying.
In a pre-Unity Day message (see below), superintendent Dr. Allyn J. Roche encouraged everyone in the district and the surrounding community to wear orange on Unity Day. The result was a sea of orange, not only in Upper Perk schools, but also at area organizations and businesses including the UPV YMCA, The Open Link, St. Luke's Quakertown Campus and Tosco's Restaurant in Pennsburg. Check out the photo slideshow below.
Each Upper Perk school and classroom recognized Unity Day a bit differently, but activities included distribution of "caught being kind" cards, hundreds of orange post-its with sweet sentiments to "spread the kindness," "because of you" videos to thank individuals, a display of feathers with positive messages on them and much more.
Pre-Unity Day Message from Dr. Roche
Dear UPSD Community,
On Wednesday, October 23, the UPSD will join organizations and individuals across the country in recognizing Unity Day. Unity Day is an event created by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, which encourages organizations and individuals to come together in one giant orange message of hope and support. Organizations and individuals and wear and share orange to visibly show that they believe that no child should ever experience bullying.
Over the coming days, we’ll be sharing some information about Unity Day--and ways to help prevent and stop bullying--on the district website, on our social media accounts and in our schools.
On Wednesday, I’m encouraging all Upper Perk students, faculty and staff (as well as parents and members of the greater Upper Perkiomen Valley community) to join me in wearing orange...whether that be a t-shirt, shoelaces, hair accessories, or in the case of our ever-stylish UPMS Principal Mrs. Siegfried, orange pants! If you don’t have any orange at home, as you’re out and about over the weekend, please consider picking something up to show support for our anti-bullying efforts.
As you or your student gets ready for school on Wednesday, please snap a photo of your/their orange attire and share it on social media using #UPSDUnityDay2019 or email it to communication specialist Nikki Gum at ngum@upsd.org to be included on the district website and social media accounts.
I also ask all of you to check out some of the resources PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center has available in regards to creating a kind, accepting and inclusive community, which is exactly what we want to encourage at Upper Perk. Talk to your families about how important it is to practice kindness, be understanding of differences and include others.
According to the director of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, more than one in every five school-aged children report being bullied. It is my hope that we see that number drop significantly, not only at Upper Perk, but also across the country.
Thanks for your support of our efforts to make the Upper Perkiomen School District a kinder, more accepting and inclusive community. I’m looking forward to seeing a sea of orange on Wednesday!
Dr. Allyn J. Roche
Superintendent of Schools
Unity Day and Anti-Bullying Resources
Anti-bullying resources from PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center
Information on bullying and cyber bullying from the U.S. government
Anti-bullying resources from Stomp Out Bullying
Bullying prevention information from the Committee for Children