Kindness and unity shared by more than 300 Osoyoos Elementary School students

Osoyoos Elementary School teacher Anne Murseli led the student band during the school’s annual Unity Rally last Wednesday at the Sonora Community Centre. More than 300 students participated in the rally that featured an anti-bullying message and detailed the school’s 17 Days of Kindness campaign.
KEITH LACEY

Last week’s rally promoted anti-bullying message and urged students to be kind to each other

Some very positive messages and themes are being instilled into the hearts and minds of more than 300 students at Osoyoos Elementary School.

Last Wednesday, all 312 students participated in the school’s annual Unity Rally organized by the Parents Advisory Council (PAC).

The Unity Rally was organized to send a message that bullying is unacceptable and that every student at Osoyoos Elementary School should feel united in sharing daily experiences in their school life, including camaraderie, friendship and acceptance, said PAC president Amy Robinson.

During the Unity Rally, teacher Rebecca Bayda announced that the school had organized a campaign called “17 Days of Kindness”, where students would be asked to perform acts of kindness each and every day heading into the annual March Break.

The Unity Rally was held at the Sonora Community Centre and featured performances by the school band and lunch served by members of the Osoyoos Coyotes.

Robinson was thrilled with the response to the unity rally by students, staff and the many parents who volunteered to assist in setting up the event.

“The rally is all about showing that everyone in this school is together in sending a positive message and making everyone feel special,” said Robinson. “We have the big kids sitting with the little ones and making them feel they are important.

“It has just blossomed into a beautiful event and one every teacher, staff member, student and community member should be proud of.”

Principal Dave Foster made sure that even the school secretary and reception staff could attend the rally, said Robinson.

“That’s why we call it a unity rally,” she said. “We want everyone in our school to feel like they are part of the team that makes this school such a special place.”

Students Alex Brunner and Kelsey Bayda helped organize the creation of more than 400 unity bracelets that were worn by everyone in attendance at the rally, she said.

“They did a terrific job,” she said.

Kirby McFadden, the chef at McKia’s Restaurant in Osoyoos, should also be commended for not only cooking a terrific meal, but also making chocolate cake with a difference, she said.

“On each plate, he inscribed a little message with kind words … and he served more than 385 plates,” she said.

The students were very pleased to be served their lunch by members of the Osoyoos Coyotes, said Robinson.

“The players are so good with the little ones who really look up to them,” she said. “Every time we ask the Coyotes to get involved in school activities, they are there for us. I would really like to thank them for coming out and supporting such a great event.”

During the 17 Days of Kindness, the idea is that “every single act of kindness can make a difference,” said Bayda.

Each class at Osoyoos Elementary School will be given tickets and students will be asked to write down what their daily act of kindness was to assist other students, she said.

At the end of the 17 days, students will tie together a paper chain from those tickets and walk around the school.

Foster will also detail each school day some of the acts of kindness taking place at the school during the morning announcements.

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times