5 Ways to Create a School-Wide Approach to Raising Awareness

October is the month of awareness. Dedicated to raising awareness for breast cancer, dyslexia, Down syndrome, emotional wellness, financial planning, bullying prevention and many more causes, it's the perfect month to get the school together to raise awareness together.

1. Organize a Service Project

Organizing a school-wide service project is a great way to get the school community involved. While a lot of planning and preparation needs to happen to make such an initiative successful, designating a committee of volunteers to the task will help get things done and will also create/inspire close friendships.

Make sure to spend lots of time using social media to promote the school's project to get the community on board as well.

Check out this resource for ideas on how to recruit volunteers for the planning and executing process. 

2. Encourage Color-Coded Comradery 

Many causes have their own color that signifies support for raising awareness. One of the biggest successes in color awareness is that of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which uses pink to signify support. For bullying prevention month, supporters are encourage to wear orange.

In order to create a school-wide approach to raising awareness, pick a day and encourage students and staff to wear the color of the cause your school has decided to support.

3. Choose Someone to Honor

In your school's large community there is probably someone who has been afflicted by the cause you and your school will champion for. Pick this person to dedicate efforts to- putting a face that everyone can recognize and identify with to the cause.

4. Orchestrate a School-Wide Walk or Jog for a Cause

Walk-a-thons are often really great fundraisers that can help your school raise money for your cause of choice. Good for all age groups, activities like these get the community moving for great reasons.

Just note that fundraising activities like these require a significant planning process and should be planned much time in advance- say in the fall if you're planning on doing it in spring.

For a comprehensive guide on how to run a walk-a-thon fundraiser, check out here. 

5. Create a School Blog

In order to let the community know about your school's efforts raising awareness and being committed to a cause to encourage involvement and support, start a school blog.

Regularly update the blog using administrator, teacher and student voices throughout different steps of your school-wide awareness campaign.

Share these posts through social media and you're sure to develop a following of people who become interested in your cause as well.

If you've used any of these methods to raise awareness for a cause in your school, let us know.

Article by Nicole Gorman, Education World Contributor

10/16/2015