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Wear Friendship Colors During Spirit Week
By Catherine Paton, Sharon
In this season of beautiful colors in nature, an inspiration for a school/ community Spirit Week of friendship colors is shared by People’s Acorns to Oaks Network. Spirit weeks will be September 9-13 and October 7-11. Schools, families, youth groups, play groups, and community members at large can participate at home or work by wearing an outfit, T-shirt or more festive attire in each day’s color.
In schools, students, teachers, staff and parents may join in wearing friendship colors. Matching colors can help identify and unify students of each grade level. Students in pre-K, grade 3, grade 7 and grade 11 should wear green; students in kindergarten, grade 4, grade 8 and grade 12 should wear red; students in grade 1, grade 5 and grade 9 should wear white; and students in grade 2, grade 6 and grade 10 should wear blue. Adults may wear white or blue, although teachers may dress to match their students. For younger children in the community, babies should wear green; 1-year-olds should wear red; 2-year-olds should wear white; 3-year-olds should wear blue; and 4-year-olds should wear green.
It is suggested that these colors be worn on the first Monday on which school meets each month. For the 2002-03 school year, these Mondays are September 9, October 7, November 4, December 2, January 6, February 3, March 3, April 7, May 5 and June 2.
Schools or groups can use these friendship colors as a convenient way to keep track of groups, create camaraderie in and among classes (such as the red team—grades K, 4 and 8), and even at regional dances, concerts, school picnics, or other events. Each school, business or civic group needs to share the idea for any given dates or events.
Wearing the friendship colors can inspire thoughts, poems and artwork about qualities in a friend or what makes friendship and community work in big and small ways. Exercises in communication, character traits and development may be incorporated into class or community friendship days. Consider playing cooperative games such as "new games," or noncompetitive activities such as group walking or jumping rope. Posters, cards to other schools, and a group mural, play or talent show may emerge.
So, during the first Spirit Week, wear class and community colors on Monday, September 9. Local school colors can work on Tuesday, September 10 (high school graduates may enjoy wearing their alma mater’s colors). Our country’s colors, fittingly, can be worn on Wednesday, September 11. For world peace on land and sea, and in the sky as well as in our hearts, blue and green can be worn on Thursday, September 12. Finally, any color of the rainbow can be worn on Friday, September 13, to respect each person’s positive contributions as well as concern for all creatures and the planet.
These color themes of friendship (or other community-building themes such as health food and fitness, multiculturalism, housekeeping, communication and relationship skills) can be repeated monthly, or even weekly for people looking to streamline their wardrobe—both simplifying and signifying the day’s celebration of community and friendship in large and small ways.
To share your ideas or for more info, please call me at 860-364-2277, or 860-364-5661.
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