Respect for All Week 2026
During February 9–13, City schools celebrate the diversity of our student body and staff members while promoting respect and understanding through theme-based activities and lessons. If you want to join in on the celebration and need some ideas, consider some of the following activities!
- Celebrate kindness by wearing red and pink.
- Twin with a classmate or faculty member. Teachers can pair up students (randomly) to dress alike. Faculty can do the same! Take photos and post them around the school.
- Start a class gratitude session. Talk about a moment when someone at the school made a kind gesture or showed respect. A small moment can have a large impact!
- Decorate school doors, walls, and halls. Create positive and uplifting artwork to display throughout the school's public areas.
- Orange is commonly associated with safety and is a good color choice to wear to highlight anti-bullying/cyberbullying.
- Know your rights! Start the day by reading the RFA FAQ and other resources available. Recognize the signs of bullying and what you can do to get help.
- Role play in interactive bullying scenarios.
- Pause before posting—what we write online now will stay online forever including when applying for higher education, interviewing for a job, etc. What we do today matters to our future selves.
- Showcase student and faculty diversity by
- wearing your cultural outfits
- holding presentations with fun facts about your life
- having a potluck—bring your ethnic cuisines to celebrate the school's diverse makeup and share recipes
- Research the demographic of New York City and NYCPS students, and discover how our schools are part of one of the most diverse cities in the world.
- Learn about inaccessibility and how it impacts our friends with disabilities. Identify ways our communities have inaccessible access such as lack of wheelchair ramps and elevators at schools, subway stations and more public areas.
- Do a lesson on screen readers. Make online content and printed materials, such as flyers and posters, easily readable by all!
- The rainbow colors of the LGBTQ+ flag honor gender identity, sexual orientation, and LGBTQ pride and acceptance. Check out other pride flags as well for outfit color inspiration as well!
- Celebrate current-day advocates of LGBTQ+ acceptance. From Elliot Page transitioning in the public eye and Chappell Roan's entire catalogue of music, to the real-life heated rivalry between ice hockey players Anna Kjellbin and Ronja Savolainen (currently competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics), what moments in pop culture stand out?
- Partner up with a classmate and design plain white T-shirts with positive messages and bright colors. Wear them by the end of the week!
- Teachers pair up (randomly or not) two students to each lunch together and provide some fun questions for them to discuss. Using their answers, each student can create a friendship bracelet for their lunch buddy.
- Create a lunchtime bingo and use it to talk to different people. Need ideas for the bingo? How about someone eating a chicken sandwich and a classmate wearing their tie-dye designed shirt made the day before? Get creative!
- Write heartfelt notes to school custodians, cafeteria staff, school safety agents and school nurse expressing our appreciation for them. This simple act can brighten someone's day and strengthen our connections.
During Black History Month, we're highlighting the stories of individuals who have often been left out of traditional historical records, like Lewis Howard Latimer, who was a draftsman, patent expert, and inventor. He is best known for his contributions to the design of the incandescent lightbulb that helped make electric lighting more commercially viable, including right here in New York City.
The 2026 Milano–Cortina Olympics kick off on February 6, and we’re celebrating with a collection of winter sports stories for students of all ages. From the ice rink to the ski slopes, these books will put you in the Olympic Spirit as you cheer on your favorite athletes!
Early Readers (3-K–Grade 2)
- Lucy Tries Luge, by Lisa Bowes; illustrated by James Hearne
- Marvelous Mabel, by Crystal Hubbard; illustrated by Alleanna Harris
- When the Moon Comes, by Paul Harbridge; illustrated by Matt James
Elementary (Grades 3–5)
- Breaking the Ice, by Angie Bullaro; illustrated by C.F. Payne
- The Comeback, by E.L. Shen
- The Longest Shot, by Chad Soon and George Chiang; illustrated by Amy Qi
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- Bea Mullins Takes a Shot, by Emily Deibert
- Lake Placid Miracle, by Blake Hoena
- Ski Soldier, by Louise Borden
Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)
- Dreamer, by Akim Aliu; written with Greg Anderson Elysee; illustrated by Karen de la Vega
- Spinning, by Tillie Walden
- Thrill Seekers, by Ann McCallum
You can find these books and many more great reads on Sora, our Citywide Digital Library, which provides free access to thousands of digital e-books and audiobooks for our students. You can also find even more recommendations in the "Celebrate the 2026 Winter Olympics" Collection on Sora!
Missed our previous book recommendations?
Check them out in the "What We're Reading" Archive!
SPOTLIGHT ON OUR SCHOOLS
In this edition of the Spotlight, we're looking back on Kamar H. Samuels' first days as Chancellor of NYC Public Schools!
Following his appointment by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Chancellor Samuels officially began his new role on January 1, 2026, and immediately began reaching out to educators and district leaders to present his vision for City public schools. The new Chancellor also spent his first full week visiting classrooms, speaking directly with parents, and meeting some of the City's most promising scholars.
Welcome aboard, Chancellor Samuels!
Exploring Climate Action at Home: Make Your Own "Solar Oven"
Join in on the fun of our energy-themed Climate Action Day at home with a solar-powered science project—and enjoy a tasty snack when you’re done!
