This week ends, but our support continues.

From Sep 8th to Sep 12th, BCPS held toy drives, themed clothes days, and donations to spread awareness for childhood cancer.

Students enjoyed the dress-up days, though some wished for a more unique theme. Teachers enjoyed being able to join in on the fun and support childhood cancer awareness. People who know children with cancer feel that this week encourages community support. 

“I wish they would have had a day where we, instead of charger connect today, they should have done it as simply, talking about cancer awareness and why it’s important to support it, instead of having a spirit week and not bringing up anything about it,” Morgan Carter, a junior at BEHS, said. 

In Carter’s opinion, the school should have had a small segment on childhood cancer in Bullitt County and how to help. To her theme, days should be more unique to encourage participation and support students with cancer. Students shouldn’t need PBIS points to be encouraged to participate in theme days if they don’t have any idea what the themes are for. 

“So I think the easier it is to participate, the more participation you’ll have. I don’t have any boots that I really wanted to wear because it was warmer outside, so that was a little harder for me. But I think on the days I did participate, I had a good time,” Erica Capito, a teacher at BEHS, said.

Teachers had fun wearing their pajamas to school and found it rather easy to join in on school spirit day. Capito liked this year’s theme slogans but wished there were more information about childhood cancer.

“So why not maybe match the themes to some sort of factoid about childhood cancer, to maybe give people that awareness without them having to seek it out,” Capito said. 

Themes that spread facts and support through the community would help raise awareness and participation. Many students wondered what the themes were for and learned more about childhood cancer in Bullitt County. 

“It shows support for the kids that are going through it right now. Bullitt County has a high population of childhood cancer families, “ Michelle Walsh, a mother of a child with cancer, said.

To her, seeing students participating in theme days helps show support from the community. Her son loves seeing his peers dressing up and supporting his journey to beat cancer. One of his suggestions for a theme was to dress up like your favorite video game character. 

“Shows that everyone’s supporting what they’ve been through and brings awareness to making sure that you’re paying attention to things that might be off,” Walsh said. 

The support means a lot to her as a parent who struggled with her child having cancer. She wants people to be aware of potential issues if something seems off with anyone. Rashes, excessive coughing, unexplained weight loss or gain are all signs that someone might need help.