On March 11, 2022, our Middle School students will have an opportunity to participate in Bernard Zell’s Day of Silence. Day of Silence is a national student-led demonstration where LGBTQ+ students and allies around the country—and the world—take a vow of silence to protest the harmful effects of harassment and discrimination of LGBTQ+ people in schools. Started in the mid-’90s by two college students, the Day of Silence has expanded to reach hundreds of thousands of students each year. Although this day is grounded in bringing attention to the harassment and bullying of LGBTQ+ students, it is also a day to educate and celebrate.

Middle School students will have an opportunity during the day to visit the Day of Silence space for 1 hour. This is an optional activity that students may or may not choose to participate in. During that hour all students remain silent and can interact with different installations of different mediums including mural making, LGBTQ+ history timeline, videos and more. We will also be collecting items for our neighbor, The Center on Halsted. The Center on Halsted is the Midwest's most comprehensive community center dedicated to advancing community and securing the health and well-being of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) people of Chicagoland. See below for more details.  

At Bernard Zell, our values of Achrayut (responsibility, especially for each other) and K’lal Yisrael (inclusion, specifically of all Jewish people, regardless of background) are at the core of all that we do. Although students are asked to be silent during this hour, this day is not about staying silent. It’s about speaking up and showing up on behalf of inclusion and diversity for our LGBTQ+ students, families, staff and faculty. We are proud to be able to offer this opportunity to our school community and are looking forward to this day!

If you have any questions please join us on Friday, March 4 on Morning Brew where Sarah Sweet, our Middle School Social Worker, will be on to talk more about Day of Silence and answer any and all questions. In addition, we hope you join us for a Parent Workshop on LGBTQ+ Belonging and Equality on March 28, 2022, with our partner Keshet.  

Please bring items by Friday, March 11. There will be a collection box at all entrances during drop-off.  

CENTER ON HALSTED COLLECTION

Food

• Single-serve snack food (chips, cookies, energy bars, etc.)

Clothing | Teen/Adult Sizes 

• Gloves

• Joggers

• Hoodies

• New underwear

• Belts

• Shoes (in good condition only, particularly women's shoes in large sizes)

• Flip-flops

Accessories

• Handheld can-openers

• Phone charging cords

• Portable headphones/earbuds

Toiletries

• Baby powder/Foot powder

• Make-up