Our school celebrated the annual Pink Shirt Week—an inspiring initiative dedicated to anti-bullying and promoting kindness, inclusion, and standing up for what is right. The event was organized by some staff and student leaders from our school and our Kāhui Ako schools. The week was filled with meaningful activities that brought our community together under one powerful message: be an upstander. Miss Scott (one of the lead teachers involved in organizing the event) shared the importance of the initiative and her role in making it a success.“My role was helping to organise the student leaders from One Tree Hill College and our Kāhui Ako schools to help them spread the message of Pink Shirt Week,” she said, “This meant running meetings with all the student leaders, a leadership workshop for our Kāhui Ako schools, and supervising all of the events we ran throughout Pink Shirt Week.” Throughout the week, the school was buzzing with positivity thanks to various creative activities. In the Hīnau Commons, a photo booth and positivity wall were set up, where students and staff could take photos with friends and share uplifting messages. 

On Wednesday, students and staff all dressed in pink for a non-uniform day, raising both awareness and funds for the ‘Voices of Hope’ a mental health charity dedicated to helping people feel seen, heard, and supported. “It was great to see lots of staff and students getting involved by wearing pink, and spreading awareness at our school,” Miss Scott added. Another highlight was the sale of appreciation cards, where students sent kind messages and a sweet treat to their friends during whānau time, in exchange for a gold coin donation. One student remarked, “The appreciation cards and positivity wall were the activities that I enjoyed the most because they reminded me to appreciate the people around me and spread encouragement.” “It was really fun seeing everyone dressed up—some people went all out in pink wigs, tutus, and makeup. It gave everyone a chance to express themselves freely and show support in their own creative ways. It made the school feel more connected and open,” observed another. Pink Shirt Week is about being an upstander—standing up for others and what’s right. It is a powerful reminder that One Tree Hill College is a place where everyone should feel safe, valued, and supported. Thanks to the efforts of our student leaders and staff, the week was not only a celebration of inclusivity but also a reflection of the values we uphold as a school.

JERSEY CAMPO & ADDIE MAMAÑGUN  - NEWS MEDIA TEA