Be Kind – Pink Shirt Day

2 March 2019Sarah R, Mackenzie ‘20

In 2007, a Grade Nine boy from Nova Scotia was bullied after wearing a pink shirt to his first day of school. Two older boys, after observing this, took their own initiative in purchasing and distributing over 50 pink shirts that as many students wore to school the next day as a protest against bullying and all that it entails. Since then, the movement has grown incredibly, with thousands of people wearing pink on Anti-Bullying Day, to symbolize intolerance for any kind of bullying. Amazingly, the CKNW Kid’s Fund website states that last year, “people in almost 180 countries shared their support of Pink Shirt Day through social media posts and donations”. Along with hundreds of other schools and businesses across Canada and beyond, Brentwood has, for years now, supported this initiative. Every year, as part of our school-wide Kindness Week, put on by the SPARC, BEAT, Grad Council, and SEC, we host a Pink Shirt Day of our own. During the past few weeks, students and staff have had the chance to order official pink shirts and toques designed by the CKNW Kid’s Fund. On February 27th, everyone was encouraged to wear pink to school, to bring awareness to this year’s theme: cyberbullying. Online communications and social media have come with a new platform through which we interact, communicate and, sadly, bully. The goal of this year’s Pink Shirt Day is to bring awareness to cyberbullying, and encourage people to think about how their online comments can either positively or negatively affect other people. The goal was to have every member of the school wear a pink item of clothing on this day, and that goal was nearly, if not completely, met! This day served as an excellent reminder to everyone of the impact that their actions and words can have on others, and to encourage people to simply be kind. Other events during Kindness Week included a warm clothing drive, multiple fun dress up days for students, and other initiatives designed to promote kindness within our Brentwood community and beyond! Thank you in particular to Mrs. McLean and to SPARC for organizing this event! Sarah R, Mackenzie ‘20

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