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Rainbow Group
This year has been a fantastic year for our Rainbow Diversity Group. This is the third year there has been a Rainbow Diversity Group at Whakatāne High School. The group began as a student initiative to provide a safe space for young LGBTQ+ students to seek advice and support from their peers. This year the group has been supported by many Whakatāne High School teachers who have shown their support for the students through conversations and engagement in Rainbow-led activities. This is as well as providing a safe space for students to discuss issues facing the LGBTQIA+ community and seek support and guidence from other students within the school community.
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EVENTS THIS YEAR
This year, members helped to organise and create displays for National Schools Pride Week. This was an event run by InsideOut and Rainbow Youth where schools all across the country were invited to engage in different activities celebrating LGBTQIA+ identities. We had a whole week of celebrations including creating rainbow chalk drawings, screening a LGBTQIA+ short film, and hosting both a basketball competition and a pride quiz. The Rainbow Diversity Group also had a stall in the market day held in October. The students organised and ran different games including a ring toss, beanbag toss, and knock- -down-the-cans. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
Next year, the Rainbow Diversity Group will be running a Rainbow Student Council to help grow leadership skills in our LGBTQIA+ students. They will work together to plan future events for the Rainbow Diversity Group. PINK SHIRT DAY
Pink Shirt Day 2020 was a great success thanks to all the hard work of the school prefects. Students arrived in pink shirts to raise awareness of, and help fight against, bullying in schools and communities. The proceeds from Pink Shirt Day went to the local Rainbow Youth Organisation to help support LGBTQ+ youth in our community.
