Every year, Manchester Township School District (MTSD) takes part in the Week of Respect, a statewide initiative for schools to focus on the prevention of harassment, intimidation, and bullying while creating safe and supportive learning environments for our students. This year, as we center on our district theme – The Power of Us – it is all the more fitting that the Week of Respect theme is New Jersey Goes Gold and Blue.
MTSD is no stranger to gold and blue. However, this Week of Respect is a unique opportunity to reflect on The Power of Us and understand how much more we can accomplish together: as a classroom, as a school, or even as a district.
Today marked the first day of the Week of Respect 2026. Each school in our district has activities and programs planned to engage with students and broaden their understanding of respect, inclusion, and belonging. Whether it be taking the NJ Goes Gold and Blue Pledge, dressing up for themed Spirit Days (like animal print to show how we are "wild about our differences"), or engaging in acts of kindness, every student and staff member of MTSD shares the same goal this week.
This district-wide effort to ensure students feel valued, protected, and empowered will culminate in The Power of Us. As the Week of Respect is observed throughout the district in smaller activities and learnings, the pieces will slowly come together to form a stronger, more unified community.
New Jersey may go Gold and Blue for this week, but as members of Manchester Township, we are Gold and Blue for life. What we learn together during this time will carry us beyond the Week of Respect, creating a brighter future for all MTSD students.
