Respectance: a fair, objective, and respectful attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc. differ from one’s own.  Last week, Santiago High School, as well as other schools in the CNUSD school district, participated in the first annual Respectance Week. This program was put on by Unity, a leadership program lead by Mrs. Thompson.

“Respectance Week” (yes, we know it’s a made up word) came about because our district is trying to be proactive in getting ahead of any racial, political, or social tension that is going on in our communities” Thompson explains. “Some of the Unity teachers from the district got together in a meeting and we all brainstormed ways we could really instill respect on our campuses. We had the five comprehensive high schools, Corona, Centennial, Roosevelt, Santiago, and Norco, all come up with a day. So, Leadership/Unity students from each school came up with a theme and an activity and then all of our schools did that activity for that day, so all five of us shared in that creation. The responses have been positive and students have really been getting involved.”

The Unity students were able to go to over 80 classrooms and perform activities with the student body due to the willingness of Santiago’s teachers and staff. They had different students take pictures with each other in cardboard frames and write about their own unique qualities. Respectance Week allowed students to realize the importance of being unique, respecting the differences of others, coming together as one, and finding common ground with others in spite of differences. Respectance was created to make a positive impact and will continue to be enacted in the years to come.