Photo: Colin Dacre

Leadership students at Penticton Secondary are looking to move beyond “anti-bullying.”

Students at the school this year will instead promote the new phrase “be kind… just because,” which will adorn shirts distributed to all that will be encouraged to be worn on certain days throughout the year.

“Every month there will be a different activity, hosted by other leadership students, that the rest of the student body can participate in to keep the message ongoing,” vice principal Sandra Richardson said.

The shirts have been purchased with the help of the Pen High 2019 Dry Grad Committee. 

Richardson says she shared the idea with a group of Grade nine girls last spring, and they ran with it. 

“I think we all have a role to play in building school community in positive ways.  It is not about anti-bullying because people can opt out by saying they do not bully…yet we can all strive to be kinder, more thoughtful people in our day to day lives.”

The project is trying to create a friendlier, more welcoming school environment and sense of community.

“Not everyone is a bully. Not everyone is mean to other people, but we can all be more kind,” said group member Catrina Whithler.

The initiative will hopefully be expanded to the rest of the school district and community. Fundraising is underway to purchase shirts for every student in the district can have one by February for the old Anti Bullying Day, and the new "Be Kind Day."