Through art, William Mason Elementary School highlighted the lessons of No Name Calling Week this past January.
To kick off the importance of being kind, inclusive, and accepting, each classroom decorated their doors with messages of how to be an UPSTANDER.
Superintendent Dr. Thomas Gorman, and Assistant Superintendents Dr. Casey Shorter and Andrea Woodring judged the collaborative works of art.
“The doors were judged in the categories of most creative, most artistic, most positive message, most feel good vibes, strongest message, and most educational,” explained School Counselor Teresa Gorgia.
Additionally, the William Mason School Culture and Climate committee put on a school assembly for the students. Led by Gorgia, members of the committee adapted the book, ‘One,’ by Kathryn Otoshi, into a play.
“’One’ is a story about name calling and bullying. In the book, Red bullies Blue, while the other colors are bystanders,” Gorgia said. “The bystanders do not speak up until One comes along. One, who is shaped as a number (1), encourages the other colors to speak up and be Upstanders.
The book, “One,” has won more than 10 awards including the Teacher's Choice Award and the E.B. White Read Aloud Honor Award. According to the book jacket, “’One’ is a not only a number/color learning book but also an imaginative story that teaches readers that everyone has special talents and that everyone is important…. Through this creative story, young readers can learn about empathy, standing up for what is right, inclusion, and anti-bullying.”
During the performance, Gorgia played Red, Victoria Carlucci was blue, Brenda Boch, Meredith Wolsten, Daniella Lopez-Anderson, and Cortney Stephenson respectively portrayed Green, Yellow, Orange and Purple, Melissa Adler was the Narrator, and Brooke Williams was the number One.
By staging the story for the students, William Mason teachers brought the lessons of empathy and kindness to life.