PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
November 11, 2010 Contact: Ms. Laura Probus, School Counselor
(502) 897-2785, ext. 150 or lprobus@ht-school.org
(Louisville, KY) Students at Holy Trinity Parish School (423 Cherrywood Avenue) are set to cross social boundaries during the ninth annual “Mix It Up at Lunch Day” on Tuesday, November 16, 2010, from 10:55 a.m. through 12:30 p.m. The students will join more than 2 million others across the country in this event, which is designed to foster respect and understanding in schools. This is the fourth annual “Mix It Up” day at Holy Trinity School.
Mix It Up encourages students to sit with someone new in the cafeteria for just one day with the ultimate hope that the message carries over into daily school life. The teachers pair a student with one or two other students whom they do not know well for the day. Many schools are planning similar barrier-busting activities throughout the day and throughout the school year.
More than 5,000 schools are expected to participate in this year’s Mix It Up at Lunch Day, which is sponsored by the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance project.
Student organizers agree that Mix It Up at Lunch Day encourages students to cross group lines and meet new people. Mix It Up also fosters school spirit and unity, raises awareness about social boundaries, and helps students meet different kinds of people and make new friends (and to realize we are all more alike than different).
The Southern Poverty Law Center launched Teaching Tolerance in 1991 to provide educators with free resources designed to reduce prejudice and promote respect for differences among our nation’s children. The Mix It Up program began in 2002.
During the celebration, students will be paired with a person they do not know well and will be provided opportunities and prompts to interact with and get to know their new friend better. Many of the teachers are tying the message into the curriculum as well, emphasizing the importance of fostering respect and understanding on a daily basis.
Entertainment will be provided as well on this day to promote the notion that “this day is different and important.” Musicians Tim Lickteig and Justin Lewis will perform in the HT Café at each lunch. Also available will be inflatables for the students to use as another way to spend time with their new friends and interact.
The lunch take place at 10:55 a.m. (7th and 8th grade), 11:20 a.m. (3rd grade), 11:45 a.m. (4th, 5th and then 6th grades), 12:20 p.m. (Kindergarten), and 12:30 p.m.(1st and 2nd grade).
Please join us.