Northampton Area Middle School staff and students are participating in the National Go Pink to Stand Up Against Bullying day.

Due to PSSA testing, the middle school will participate April 4. Staff and students are encouraged to wear pink. Pink shirts, pink pants, pink slippers and pink hair; the more pink, the better!

The purpose of wearing pink is to show unity in standing up against bullying in the school. This is a national movement started by students standing up for someone who was ridiculed for wearing pink.

Events of the day include showing up to school in as much pink as possible and completing a survey to become part of a student task force to assist students being bullied on the spot. A staff video will also be shown, encouraging students to take a stand against bullying. Special events during lunch periods to promote acceptance will also take place. Also, students will create and sign a pink promise link to stand up against bulling. Additionally, there will be a schoolwide assembly outside to connect the entire student body within the signed pink links to symbolize they are united in the effort.

Prizes will be given out for best pink outfits and accessories. If the school has a 95 percent rate participation or above by all students wearing pink, all three building principals will spray their hair pink at the assembly.

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Note, the following dates are make up days. Thursday, April 17, Tuesday, June 3, Wednesday, June 4, Thursday, June 5 and Friday, June 6 are now school dates.

The following days will now be full days of school for all students: Tuesday, May 27, Wednesday, May 28, Thursday, May 29, Friday, May 30 and Monday, June 2. Early dismissal will occur 10:35 a.m. for secondary students and noon for elementary and Washington's Crossing students Tuesday, June 3, Wednesday, June 4, Thursday, June 5 and Friday, June 6.

Visit the Northampton Area School District website for more details at http://www.northampton.k12.pa.us and follow the link to updated make up days.

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An oldies dance and hot buffet dinner, sponsored by the Northampton Area Konkrete Kids Educational Foundation, is scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 5, at the Northampton Community Center.

The $30 ticket for this fundraiser will include the hot buffet dinner served with beer, wine and soda, followed by live music performed by Desire, 7:30-10:30 p.m. A basket raffle will add to the evening's festivities.

All proceeds from this fundraiser will be donated to the Konkrete Kids Educational Foundation, a nonprofit community organization that raises funds which are used to extend learning opportunities and cocurricular experiences for Northampton Area School District students.

For oldies dance tickets, contact Paulette at 610-509-8173 before the March 28 deadline. No tickets will be sold at the door.

The dance is open to anyone over 21 years of age.

Any individual or business interested in being a sponsor for this fundraiser or in donating a basket for the raffle should contact Paulette.

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PSSA testing for grades three through eight will take place Monday, March 24 through Friday, March 28.

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Do you have any school news? This column is a compilation of upcoming school events in the Northampton Area School District. Teachers, administrators, parents, students, coaches, PTOs, club advisors and any other community members are invited to share their upcoming activities. Email me at jamb87@hotmail.com with "Northampton School News" in the subject line at least a week before an event.