McKinley Junior High School Respect for All Week 2015

Respect for All week 2015 swept McKinley Junior High School in Dyker Heights between Monday, February 9 and Friday, February 13, as McKinley, in its third year of participating, sought to become a third-time Respect for All winner.

This year’s campaign included activities like “Twin Day: How does it feel to walk in someone else’s shoes?” on Monday, as students and teachers dressed alike. Students also created posters on how they’d advertise anti-bullying.

Another big hit in the week was “Superhero” day on Wednesday, where students and teachers were asked to participate in wearing a superhero T-shirt to promote their “inner superhero.”

First responders like NYPD, EMS and members of the military were honored at a morning event on Thursday.

“I wanted [students] to get that ‘aha’ moment,” said Diana Oliveri-Pilzer, whose own husband is a police officer. “I wanted to get them to think, ‘This is closer than just being on the news. This is a teacher in my school.’”

“I think it was a great opportunity for the NYPD and BRAVO to come to McKinley Junior High School and share our experience with the kids and it’s really important they know how important our job is and how much we dedicate our lives to helping the community and helping others,” said Jory Guttsman, special events coordinator at BRAVO Volunteer Ambulance.

An “I LOVE ME” bake sale was held on Friday, with proceeds donated to a charity – one that deals with heart disease this year because of the loss of a staff member’s brother to a heart attack.

This year’s theme revolved self-esteem – teaching kids to love themselves and do good for others. The ideas were driven by the team of Oliveri-Pilzer and Melissa Biondi, a paraprofessional. Students were also encouraged to share ideas.

McKinley also has an anti-bullying club known as the Starfish Club, with upwards of 50 members.

“We literally have 55 kids who want to make a difference and just by taking the steps to join the club, they’re making that difference,” said Biondi.

Another highlight involved Biondi talking to an eighth grade class about being teased as a kid for her weight. She had them respond back with letters and got wide-eyed reactions from them.

“I think because I became vulnerable and I spoke about something personal, the kids were like, ‘Oh, she’s real,” said Biondi. “ Then, I tell the kids just because it’s 2015 doesn’t mean when I was a kid in the ‘70s and ‘80s, it made it any different.”

Despite yearly adjustments, the overall theme never changes: be true to yourself because there’s only one shot at life.

“Beyond the whole bullying thing, I think it’s more important to be assertive, not aggressive — There’s a difference —  just to be assertive of yourself and know who you are,” said Oliveri-Pilzer.