From October 28 to November 1, the students and faculty of Independence Primary School came together to celebrate their annual I-Pride Week, a joyful event focused on fostering community, positivity, and emotional growth. Over the course of five days, the school explored themes of joy, togetherness, wellness, bravery, and kindness through a variety of colorful dress-up days and engaging classroom activities.
On "Joyful Monday," students shared things that brought them happiness and learned how expressing joy can uplift those around them. "Together Tuesday" had the whole school wearing blue as they discussed ways to cheer each other up when feeling down. Members of the Independence High School Marching Band and other high school students came to IPS for an outdoor pep assembly. The high school students shared with Independence’s youngest learners the importance of building each other up and how that is a powerful way to show kindness and care. On "Wellness Wednesday," the focus shifted to mindful breathing and coping skills for tough emotions.
Halloween was celebrated on "Thursday," with costumes and a school-wide party. The week culminated on "Fearless Friday," when students bravely shared personal stories of overcoming challenges, inspiring their peers with displays of resilience. Everyone enjoyed wearing purple or dressing like a superhero.
Throughout the week, the school community reinforced messages of kindness, empathy, and supporting one another. Parents were encouraged to continue these conversations at home, further emphasizing the importance of emotional awareness and compassion. By the end of IPS I-Pride Week 2024, the school had fostered a stronger, more connected student body ready to carry these valuable lessons forward.
The school encouraged these lessons to continue to be discussed at home. They offered parents conversation starters for their children: “What did you share that makes you happy today?” “Did you help cheer someone up this week? How did you do it? “Tell me about something brave you did, even if it felt a little scary.”
"As we celebrated I-Pride Week, our focus was on cultivating kindness, emotional resilience, and making core memories that will last a lifetime," said Counselor Brooke Gradert. "We stressed the importance of being kind to everyone, because we never know what others are going through. By helping our students handle big feelings and find joy in the day, we hope to empower them with the tools to build a more compassionate school community."
CLICK HERE for a video highlighting the I-Pride Pep Assembly.