UNITY DAY — Last year’s National Unity Day at Harding Middle School featured students promoting diversity and inclusion. This year, the school took part in a week-long event, which began Oct. 20 and ran through Friday. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — Harding Middle School students are supporting diversity and uniting in kindness as they kick off their monthly Overcoming Obstacles program.

Last week, beginning Oct. 20, those in grades fifth through eighth learned about diversity and completing projects to draw awareness. Students celebrated Unity Day Wednesday, wearing orange and purchasing bracelets that promote kindness.

According to school Social Worker Shay Greiner, themed activities are held monthly, with children performing tasks inside the classroom and outside of school.

“This is a social-emotional lesson and students will do projects,” Greiner said. “We always like to do something with the community and tie it into our lesson. We started Overcoming Obstacles in our flex classes on diversity and inclusion. The students received a lesson and engaged in classroom discussions on the importance of diversity and inclusion.”

Greiner said fifth- and sixth-graders were designing inclusion tiles to hang on the ceiling, while the upperclassmen were making diversity banners to hang in the hallways.

Students generated ideas to create signs to place throughout the community.

The school went orange for Wednesday’s National Unity Day, celebrating kindness and inclusion. It was the signature event of National Bullying Prevention Month. Greiner noted the warm and inviting color is commonly associated with safety, visibility and protection.

Faculty, staff, students and administrators wore the citrus hue, while silicone bracelets bearing the words “Stallions Choose Kind” sold for $1 each.

Proceeds from the sales went back to the school for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports programming.

“The money goes back to the students and we will hold a gift card drawing before Christmas break,” Greiner stated.

Additional Overcoming Obstacles activities are planned for November under the themes of kindness and anti-bullying. Plans also include delivering cookie trays within the community.