Abbotsford Middle School students came out in force in a show of solidarity for Pink Shirt Day and performed an impromptu flash mob involving the entire school. Students in all grades wore pink for the day as they stood up to bullying.
Photograph by: Jean Konda-Witte , TIMES
More than 530 students at Abbotsford Middle School left class a little early Wednesday and donning pink shirts, formed an impromptu flash mob to bring awareness to their anti-bullying campaign for Pink Shirt Day (Feb. 27).
The Husky Heroes leadership group, under the direction of teacher Michelle Ronning, led the entire student body of Grade 6 – 8 kids.
For the past month the Husky Heroes group has been going into gym classes, teaching all students the moves for their flash mob dance.
On Wednesday afternoon, as hundreds of parents crammed the parking lot to pick up their kids, the flash mob came out and started dancing in front of the school.
“It was intentional so the whole community could see,” said principal Ian Levings.
The kids and passersby got a kick out of the event, but the message was serious added Levings.
“It’s not like a holiday,” he said. “The main part of Pink Shirt Day is to bring awareness to bullying. It’s the education that goes along with the anti-bullying campaign, which is done throughout the school year.”
The middle school flash mob was a success for the nation-wide Pink Shirt Day.
“It’s more about developing awareness and bringing up a conversation,” said Levings. “The real meat and potatoes is about teaching it in the classrooms.”
