Ryan Daniels, a student at Ramstein Intermediate School in Germany, prominently wears his "Stop Bullying Now" sticker during the school's celebration of Unity Day on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017. The school encouraged kids to stand up to bullying while promoting kindness, acceptance and inclusion. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)
Ryan Daniels, a student at Ramstein Intermediate School in Germany, prominently wears his "Stop Bullying Now" sticker during the school's celebration of Unity Day on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017. The school encouraged kids to stand up to bullying while promoting kindness, acceptance and inclusion. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)
Students at Ramstein Intermediate School in Germany hold a plaque reading "Use Positive Words!" while participating in the school's Unity Day celebration on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017. Many students wore orange, the color typically worn on Unity Day, to symbolize inclusion, acceptance and kindness. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes )
Josiah Williams, a fifth-grader at Ramstein Intermediate School in Germany, prepares to hand out "Stop Bullying Now" stickers during the school's celebration of Unity Day on Oct. 18, 2017. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)
Students at Ramstein Intermediate School in Germany hold hands to show their support for one another during the school's celebration of Unity Day on Oct. 18, 2017. The event was part of the school's annual bullying-prevention campaign. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein Intermediate School fifth-graders Lucy Baxter, left, and Britain Gonzales put "Stop Bullying Now" stickers on the school's mascot during the school's celebration of Unity Day on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017, in Germany. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)
Dell McMullen, the director of Department of Defense Education Activity-Europe schools, spoke to students at Ramstein Intermediate School in Germany as part of the school's celebration of Unity Day on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017. "Kindness is a superpower because it can change people's lives," McMullen said. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)
Students at Ramstein Intermediate School in Germany joined music teacher Steven Rayburn in singing "Don't Laugh at Me," on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017, during the school's celebration of Unity Day. In the song, children who have been teased, among others, ask for acceptance from others. (Jennifer H Svan/Stars and Stripes)
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — Students at Ramstein Intermediate School wore orange while taking a stand against bullying Wednesday in celebration of Unity Day, a national campaign that promotes kindness, acceptance and inclusion.
Gathered in the school’s courtyard on a chilly autumn morning, hundreds of pupils in grades 3, 4 and 5 sang songs, held hands and recited in unison an anti-bullying pledge, vowing not to let their “actions or words hurt others.”
“Empathy is the most important thing we can teach our kids,” said fourth-grade counselor Noreen Mantini. “Empathy, kindness and support for one another.”
Ramstein is one of many Department of Defense Education Activity schools that recognize National Bullying Prevention Month in October.
At Landstuhl Elementary/Middle School, pink was the color of the day Wednesday. Students were encouraged to show solidarity with the “sea of pink” movement against bullying that began in 2007 in Nova Scotia, Canada, after a boy was bullied for wearing pink to school, Landstuhl school officials said.
jennifer.svan@stripes.com Twitter: @stripesktown
