"National Mix It Up Day" to help stop division in school

Fonda-Fultonville Middle School will join 2701 schools across the nation as they join in "National Mix It Up Day" on Tuesday, Nov. 10.

"Mix It Up Day"  is a simple call to action: take a new seat in the cafeteria. By making the move, students can cross the invisible lines of school division, meet new people and make new friends. Mix it Up at Lunch Day helps students become more comfortable interacting with different kinds of people.

To make the day more fun, students are encouraged to:

• participate in a poster contest (1st prize—$20 gift card)

• sign the "I support 'Mix It Up Day'" banner

• take a new seat during their lunch period

• join in a game during lunch to win prizes.

Students thrive—socially and academically—in schools that are inclusive. Yet, for far too many students, schools are hotbeds of exclusion. Social scientists have long maintained that contact between diverse groups helps alleviate tensions and reduce prejudice. Mix It Up seeks to break down the barriers between students and improve intergroup relations so there are fewer misunderstandings that can lead to conflicts, bullying, and harassment. The lessons learned during lunch on Nov. 10 will help promote social border crossing all year long.

Community businesses pitch in to help

The Fonda-Fultonville Middle School Character Education Committee thanks the local businesses who have supported this effort through their generous donations. They include:

• Twin Pine Family Chiropractic

• Nancy Persse Langdon, State Farm Insurance

• A & L Tools (Mac Tools)

• NBT Bank - Fonda

• Dunkin Donuts - Fultonville

• McBonalds - Fultonville

• Lions Club

• Betz, Rossi, Bellinger & Stewart Family Funeral Home

• TJ's Pizza

• Sorrenti's

• Subway - Fonda

• Checkers Out