The Ocean County Vocational Technical School District stands together in helping to create a world without bullying! We stood together and wore orange on October 16 to show unity for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion and to send a visible message that no child should ever experience bullying.

Unity Day, started by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center as the signature event of National Bullying Prevention Month continues to grow every year as a tangible representation of the universal message that our society wants to promote kindness, acceptance and inclusion to prevent bullying.

Why unity? For years, bullying was justified with expressions such as, “Bullying is a natural part of childhood,” “Bullying makes kids tougher,” or “Bullying is a rite of passage.” The goal of Unity Day is to bring together youth, parents, educators, businesses, and community members across the nation to emphasize
the message that bullying is not acceptable, and that all students deserve to be safe in school, online, and in the community.

Why the color orange? Unity Day is celebrated in October, and orange is a color commonly identified with the month and the autumn season. It is also a color that is associated with safety and visibility. It is a color described as warm and inviting, and its vibrancy makes an impactful statement.

Why just a day? The event provides a catalyst for everyone to come together with a visual statement that our actions matter not only on one day, but every day.

One young student shared that he wished Unity Day could be every day. When asked why he replied: “So that every day everyone would be nicer to me and to each other.”

Pictured- OCVTS Brick, Jackson, Grunin Performing Arts Academy, and Marine Academy of Technology & Environmental Science