"Choose To Be G.R.E.A.T." Week

"Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T." Week is an event that takes place during the first full week of October each year. The purpose of this event is to draw awareness to the Program and to give G.R.E.A.T. students a sense of community as well as a sense of pride in the G.R.E.A.T. skills taught in the lessons of the Program. This event can be held on one day of that week or for the entire week.

Throughout this week, law enforcement officers across the United States and in Central America will be inviting their G.R.E.A.T. students to sign the official G.R.E.A.T. Pledge: "I pledge to use my G.R.E.A.T skills to reduce violence in my community, work to resolve conflicts peacefully, and stop bullying whenever I see it."

G.R.E.A.T. instructors can log in to their Instructor Resources account for suggested ideas on how to make this week a success as well as to download posters to promote this week in their schools and classes. Below are sample social media posts that can be cut and pasted into social media accounts or added to the bottom of e-mails for the week. If you are not a G.R.E.A.T. instructor but are interested in having your child’s school or class participate in observing “Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T.” Week, contact your local G.R.E.A.T. instructor.

"Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T. " Week Ideas

Options for Face-to-Face Participation

Take five minutes during the scheduled lesson for the students to say and sign pledges.
Pass out teal “Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T.” Week awareness ribbons (stick-on, rather than pin-on).
Develop a specific activity in which the students can take part.
Have a door-decorating/poster contest.
Have an article-writing contest in which the students write articles about “Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T.” Week or the G.R.E.A.T. Program and publish the winning article in the school paper.
In addition to or in lieu of individual pledge certificates, create a poster or banner of the G.R.E.A.T. Pledge that all of the students sign (you can invite faculty as well) and hang it in a very visible place in the school.

Options for Virtual Participation

Email the Pledge Certificate file to the students for them to print and sign.
Invite the students to share a selfie of themselves with their signed certificates with you and their classmates (parental permission required).
Record yourself and your class reading the G.R.E.A.T. Pledge aloud over a virtual session.
During the scheduled lesson, spend time inviting students to share ways that they can be G.R.E.A.T. citizens even when they cannot come to school.
Email the “Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T.” Week coloring sheet to your students. Invite the students to complete the coloring sheet or design their own and send them back to you. Then create a “virtual gallery” PowerPoint presentation of the students’ artwork.

Tips and Suggestions

Be sure to appeal to school administrators and teachers for permission and assistance in observance of “Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T.” Week.
Consider adding a signature to your emails saying that you are celebrating “Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T.” Week during October 3−7, 2024.
Promote “Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T.” Week using your social media pages.
Incorporate “Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T.” Week in the “Making My Community a G.R.E.A.T.Place” project.
Promote the “Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T.” Week for the entire month of October.
Use the entire class period to observe “Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T.” Week.

Sample Facebook Posts

This week, I’m celebrating “Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T.” Week, pledging to reduce violence in my community, to resolve conflicts peaceably, and to stop bullying when I see it.
Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T. with me. Take the pledge. October 7−11, 2024.
I’m a law enforcement officer who believes in communities for our youth that are free of violence, bullying, and gangs. Join me in celebrating “Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T.” Week during October 7−11, 2024.
I’m a teacher who believes in communities for my students that are free of violence, bullying, and gangs. Join me in celebrating “Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T.” Week during October 7−11, 2024.
I’m a parent who believes in communities for my children that are free of violence, bullying, and gangs. Join me in celebrating “Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T.” Week during October 7−11, 2024.
Join me in celebrating “Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T.” Week during October 7−11, 2024. Our children have a right to futures free of violence, bullying, and gangs.
This week, I’m joining others across America in celebrating “Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T.” Week, and you can, too! Learn more at (insert link to website).
This week, I’m standing with youth across the nation as they pledge to use their G.R.E.A.T. skills to reduce violence, resolve conflicts, and stop bullying. Will you stand with us, too? #ChoosetoBeGREAT24, October 7−11, 2024.
Help stop youth violence. #ChoosetoBeGREAT24, October 7−11, 2024.

Sample X (formerly Twitter) Posts

This week, I’m celebrating #ChoosetoBeGREAT24 Week, pledging to reduce violence in my community, to resolve conflicts peaceably, and to stop bullying.
Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T. with me. Take the pledge. October 7−11, 2024. #ChoosetoBeGREAT24
I’m a teacher who believes in communities that are free of violence, bullying, and gangs. Celebrating #ChoosetoBeGREAT24 Week, October 7−11, 2024.
I’m a parent who believes in communities that are free of violence, bullying, and gangs. Celebrating #ChoosetoBeGREAT24 Week, October 7−11, 2024.
I’m a law enforcement officer who believes in communities that are free of violence, bullying, and gangs. Celebrating #ChoosetoBeGREAT24 Week, October 7−11, 2024.
Join me in celebrating “Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T.” Week. Our youth deserve futures that are free of violence, bullying, and gangs. #ChoosetoBeGREAT24
Help stop youth violence. #ChoosetoBeGREAT24 Week, October 7−11, 2024.
This week, I’m joining others across America in celebrating #ChoosetoBeGREAT24 Week, and you can, too! Learn more at (insert link to website).

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