Yellow Ribbon Week is Violence Prevention Week. It takes place every year in January during the week beginning with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. This annual recognition supports our Safe and Drug Free Schools message, that our schools are safe havens for students to excel and develop skills for a successful future.

Yellow Ribbon Week not only raises awareness about keeping California’s schools safe and violence free, but also honors the victims of school violence and reminds us to do everything in our power to ensure that these senseless tragedies never happen again. Our students and schools participate in activities throughout this week in partnership with Dignity Health/Glendale Memorial Hospital and The Great Kindness Challenge.

The Great Kindness Challenge

The highlight and centerpiece of Yellow Ribbon Week is our participation in The Great Kindness Challenge. Because of the active participation of our students and schools, GUSD is recognized as a Kindness Certified School District. The Great Kindness Challenge is a proactive and positive bullying prevention initiative that improves school climate and increases student engagement.

During Yellow Ribbon Week, our students perform as many acts of kindness as possible. Using the provided checklist of 50 kind acts, students accept the challenge and show the world that KINDNESS MATTERS! Students are encouraged to continue sharing their kindness at home, in their communities, and in our world.

All students deserve to learn in
 a safe, supportive, and dynamic environment. The Great Kindness Challenge provides a powerful tool that actively engages students, teachers, administration, families, and community in creating a school culture of acceptance, tolerance, unity, and respect.

Simply put, in the GUSD, we believe that KINDNESS is strength and has the power to change the world for GOOD!