The week before Valentine’s day is most popularly known as BLAST week which stands for “Be Loving and Sharing Together”. During this week, events and activities are put into place to bring recognition to the cultures and community in the school. This gives students an opportunity to feel accepted and confident in an educational environment filled with peers, along with being able to be open and proud of their culture or community.
Students find BLAST week so important since it is an opportunity to represent themselves and be accepted, finding ways to put themselves out there and become more confident knowing that the school environment is warm and welcoming. It can be really hard for students to find ways to represent themselves for their culture or community so that is why BLAST week is so important.
Dusty Dennis, special education teacher and Student Council advisor, talked about how important the meaning of BLAST week is and how important it is to students. Dennis explained how this week is “their opportunity to shine”.
Planning BLAST week is also important because it is all put together by Student Council. They make sure students get the best experience out of this week and that they can really bring out the meaning of BLAST week. They plan all of the events including Battle of the Bands, Family Feud, The Heritage Fashion Show and more.
Avery Crickenberger, junior and student council member, explained how much work it is planning along with making sure everything goes accordingly.
The events that occur during BLAST week all have the same purpose, to make sure all students feel accepted and confident. BLAST week is meant to create a welcoming and warm environment for students to help them come out of their shell and take part in their school, not only as a Pony but as a peer. Students can come together to celebrate their culture or bring awareness to their community which gives the opportunity to grow as a community. The events are free for students to take part in such as the Lip Sync battle, Culture Fair, Heritage Fashion Show and Battle of the Bands.
Principal Robert Bach spoke about the importance and meaning of the BLAST week events. “The idea that we should be celebrating differences and inclusivity, and that contribute to our environment here at school,” Bach said.
BLAST week is something students look forward to because as much fun it is, they also love the meaning of it, celebrating and sharing their cultures or community while growing a welcoming environment can teach students to be accepting. Diverse groups present a welcoming place for students.
“It’s a good way for everyone to see the diversity that we have in the school because we have such a big population,” Crickenberger said.
BLAST week is valued by many students who find it incredibly important to create a school environment where they can feel safe and comfortable. Students and staff come together and support one another, while attending the events that spread awareness to the diversity in the school.
