Dryden Central School District (DCSD) made it a priority to take part in the United in Kindness program organized by the Tompkins County Bullying Prevention Task Force in October.
But DCSD’s engagement is a multifaceted campaign that will continue throughout the 2023-2024 school year. The district is promoting the campaign on its social media platforms.
DCSD kicked off its United in Kindness campaign with Unity Day on October 18, calling on community members to wear orange—the color for bullying prevention—”for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.” School bulletin boards were festooned with kindness messages, and all school cafeterias served meals with orange-colored items. Middle and high school students were given orange-colored United in Kindness wristbands to wear. School staff wore specially designed orange t-shirts with the slogan “Be the Unity in Community.”
The district is hosting guest speakers, such as Brandi Remington, TST-BOCES Youth Development Coordinator, who gave a presentation for parents about New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act (DASA).
DCSD launched a “Mental Health 101” website, which provides community resources, mental health services, and social emotional learning opportunities.
DCSD libraries created an array of books with themes on kindness and giving back. During the month of February, the school district will distribute to preK-12 students and community members bookmarks with kindness messages and reminders to include everyone and be respectful of other people’s differences.
Another kindness initiative involving students was a food drive, with donation boxes placed outside classrooms, to support Dryden families during the Thanksgiving holiday.
Student athletes brought their own contributions to Dryden’s campaign. Dryden High School cheerleaders created mental health awareness posters and posted them around school as signs of mindfulness for their classmates.
Even before the United in Kindness campaign began, Dryden Lacrosse player Tyler Franzese along with high school coaches and teammates created Dryden’s “You Matter” initiative to promote mental health and suicide prevention at “mental health games” sporting events. The initiative, which has been featured on Nick Karski’s “Between the Lines” ESPN podcast, honors former assistant Lacrosse coach Matt Williams, who died by suicide in 2022.
For Dryden games, players wear “You Matter” t-shirts during warmups and purple and teal suicide prevention ribbons on the field. The school sells the “You Matter” shirts to raise money to support the expansion of the district’s mental health resources.
The initiative says its mission is “to help people through their inner struggles, no matter how big or small, by promoting positive mental health and suicide prevention.” It encourages people to talk about their struggles and to be open to help with their mental and emotional health.
United in Kindness, designed to observe National Bullying Prevention Month, showcases all of the great work taking place around Tompkins County and act as a reminder that each of our individual efforts come together to support a culture of acceptance and kindness. Many agencies, school districts, groups, and individuals are working together to build empathy, self awareness, social skills, and holistic health that is needed to cultivate a culture of kindness.
In a world where our days are filled with activity, responsibility, and a constant flow of information, the importance of mental health can be overlooked. Yet, it is an essential part of our overall well being.
DCSD recognizes that the road to better mental health is not a linear path. It is okay to have setbacks or hard days. What is important is the commitment to move forward and invest in our own wellbeing. By attending to our own mental health, we can inspire others to do the same.
—By Mary Hicks and Lara Patz
Mary Hicks is a social worker and Lara Patz is a public relations specialist in the Dryden Central School District
Keep up with Dryden’s United in Kindness campaign on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).
Photo credits: Dryden Central School District Facebook page
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