Lakes Middle School celebrates Unity Day with music, signs, candy

Students at Lakes Middle School gathered at the front entrance Wednesday morning to transform the morning drop-off into a joyful Unity Day celebration.

As students arrived, pop music and classmates in orange greeted them, waving pom-poms and inspirational signs. Students also received a free cup of hot chocolate or cider to chase away the morning chill, courtesy of the PTSA.

“The whole goal is to show our community that everyone matters, everyone belongs and we love everyone here,” teacher Jenny Nelson said.

Unity Day is the signature event of National Bullying Prevention Month, encouraging students to wear orange to show support for kindness, acceptance and inclusion.

No one was left out of Lakes Middle School’s Unity Day celebration. Students handed parents notes of affirmation and candy during drop-off to show appreciation for their support.

Even Principal Aaron Drake joined the fun, donning a neon orange wig and sunglasses to greet students.

“It’s spreading kindness and making sure everyone knows they are supported at this school,” student Summer Budrow said. “It just makes everyone feel good because some people aren’t very nice at this school, so we always want it to be more kind.”

“Everyone needs a little kindness in their life,” student Rowen Williams added.

The “Drive By Kindness” event was planned by the 20 students enrolled in the new leadership elective at Lakes Middle School. Nelson said the elective grew out of Kind Club, which previously met once a week. To give students more opportunities to plan events like this one, Nelson proposed turning the club into an elective.

“It’s all about thinking about how we can unite our community through shared experiences,” Nelson said. “It’s an experiment, but I think it’s going well. I feel like it’s the students, not the teachers, who are leading.”

According to Nelson, the leadership elective aims to help students grow into community leaders and develop leadership skills. In addition to the Drive By Kindness event, Leadership students also planned next Friday's school assembly.

Williams said his favorite part of the leadership class is “helping out everyone and being a leader.”

“I’m in that class because I just want to help everybody feel comfortable in their school,” Budrow added.

Each student received an orange lei upon arrival, and before long nearly everyone was decked out in orange to show solidarity with bullying prevention efforts.

    Lakes Middle School principal Aaron Drake and teacher Jenny Nelson at the "Drive By Kindness" event Wed. morning.
  

    Lakes Middle School students Summer Budrow and Finley Scott at the "Drive By Kindness" event Wed. morning.
  

    Lakes Middle School students Abel Rosen and Finley Scott at the "Drive By Kindness" event Wednesday morning.
  

    Laura Siemens serves hot chocolate to students at Lakes Middle School's "Drive By Kindness" event Wednesday morning.