This year, Westview Unity Week’s theme was all about stories. Students throughout campus last week were challenged to “know the story, know the person” before judging someone they knew. Through various activities from balloon-popping to pledge-signing, students were given numerous meaningful opportunities to spread positivity and acceptance around campus, and were encouraged to continue after the week’s end.

On Monday and Tuesday, sophomores spent their day in the gym, participating in our annual Unity Day. Led by the inspirational and engaging youth speaker Keith Hawkins, our sophomore Wolverines not only shared their stories; they were compassionate and caring with one another, and even listened to each other's’ stories as well. They made new lifelong friends in “family groups” and created a support system for both themselves and others that will last them throughout their high school experience.

As for our freshmen, juniors, and seniors, all of our wolverines had something to get involved in this week! Many of our upperclassman volunteered to facilitate many of the week’s activities and gave much of their time and energy to the weeks cause. On Wednesday, these facilitators shared their stories to everyone they talked to and encouraged their friends to do the same. On the last two days of the week, all students entered a quad filled with balloons which, in turn, were each filled with small compliment cards. When a student popped a balloon, they read the compliment and were challenged to “pass it on” to another student. Within a matter of minutes, the entire Westview campus was circulating with meaningful compliments and  positivity. After popping a balloon, students signed giant letters spelling “UNITY,” pledging to continuously strive to  “know the story, know the person.”