Unity Day and Bullying Prevention Month
Posted Date: 10/14/26 (10:00 AM)
Dear Carmel Central School District Parents and Caregivers,
On Wednesday, October 21, our schools will observe Unity Day, an opportunity to come together in support of kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. Created by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, Unity Day is part of National Bullying Prevention Month. Its message is simple: bullying is not acceptable, and every student deserves to feel safe and valued at school, online, and in the community.
We observe Unity Day because a supportive school environment is enhanced through our everyday actions. Students can help by welcoming someone who feels left out, treating others with respect, speaking up when they see unkind behavior, supporting a peer who has been hurt, and telling a trusted adult when bullying occurs. These actions provide an important reminder that no one will face bullying alone.
Throughout the day, our schools will share information and offer age-appropriate activities that help students think about how to prevent bullying and stand together for one another. Students will have opportunities to discuss inclusion and identify practical ways to help every member of our school community feel that they belong. Please be on the lookout for follow-up communications from your child’s principal.
We invite students and staff to wear something orange on October 21. Orange is Unity Day’s visible sign of support for students who have experienced bullying and of our shared commitment to kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. Participation is not dependent on wearing orange; what matters most is how we treat one another, on Unity Day and every day.
Thank you for partnering with us. You can continue the conversation at home by asking your child, “What can you do to help someone feel included?” and “Who could you turn to if you or a classmate needed help?” Together, we can make our schools places where every community member feels seen, supported, and connected. For more information and family resources, please visit PACER’s Unity Day page.
Sincerely,
Michael Plotkin
Superintendent of Schools