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From February 10–14, 2020, New York City public schools across the five boroughs are celebrating Respect for All (RFA) Week, the DOE’s annual, week-long call to action for City schools to build, promote, and maintain safe and inclusionary school environments on behalf of all students, staff, and community members.

Held every year, RFA Week is part of the DOE’s ongoing Respect for All program, focused on building our staff members’ and students’ capacity to develop diverse, inclusive, and supportive school communities that are free from harassment, intimidation, bullying, and discrimination.

Throughout RFA Week, schools across the City will be hosting events and organizing activities for their students, staff, and community members aimed at teaching social responsibility and violence awareness. Each day will highlight a different topic for discussion and activities, beginning with “Celebrating Kindness/Be an Ally” on Monday, February 10.

Sign that reads, "be cool in our school, it's bully free and so are we."

P.S. 56 (Staten Island) lets visitors know that they are serious about Respect for All.

RFA Week’s themes continue as follows:

  • Tuesday, February 11: Anti-bullying/Cyberbullying
  • Wednesday, February 12: Respect for Diversity, Religious Acceptance, and Racial Diversity
  • Thursday, February 13: Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation and LGBTQ pride and acceptance
  • Friday, February 14: National No One Eats Alone Day
A class of students standing on a school stage while wearing traditional cultural costumes in honor of RFA Week

Schools celebrate RFA Week in different ways, including school performances that celebrate students’ heritage.

Respect for All Week will conclude with the celebration of National No One Eats Alone Day on Friday, February 14, a nationwide lunchtime event that encourages students to connect and engage with their peers in order to combat social isolation.

To learn more about Respect for All, please visit our RFA website.

Official blog for the NYC Department of Education, home of a million students across 1,800+ schools

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