Pink Shirt Day began in 2007 as a protest against bullying at a high school in Nova Scotia.
On the first day of school, a Grade 9 boy was harassed for wearing a pink shirt. On hearing of the incident, two Grade 12 boys purchased 50 pink shirts. Word spread, and by the following morning, the school was a sea of pink clothing. Since then, Pink Shirt Day has become a worldwide event.
On Feb. 29, students at the Forest Grove and Buffalo Creek elementary schools created their own pink seas.
At Forest Grove Elementary School, students, staff and volunteers shone in brilliant pink shirts, purchased for them by the Community and Parents Advisory Council. The shirts featured the official 2012 “Bullying Stops Here” logo.
Pre-schoolers from Little Wranglers Day Care posed proudly in front of a sign they put together. They were wearing pink shirts made for them by day-care operator Corrie Benard.
Corrie and StrongStart teacher Sheila Nelson have been working with their young charges to encourage them to learn values at an early age that will last a lifetime.
“We are committed to teaching a bully-free life,” Corrie explained.
“The children learn to keep their hands off others, no hitting or violence, how to use kind words and how to apologize. We emphasize positive ways of handling things.”
Four-year old Wyatt Benard emphatically declared, “Bullying stops here!”
The shirts worn by the students at Buffalo Creek Elementary School were a spectacular mix of bright pink hues. The children worked in pairs to tie dye white shirts, which were then laundered by parents Julie Dewsbury and Teresa Potter.
Assemblies were held at both schools. Anti-bullying skits and videos stressed the importance of respecting every individual, the need to support children who are being bullied, and how to handle being bullied.