Students and staff at Bridgewater-Raritan High School gathered in the small gym and the large cafeteria for a six-hour event that was sponsored by Ignite2Unite on Friday, September 19.
This was a program designed to strengthen school culture, develop leadership skills, and inspire student involvement.
Ignite2Unite has worked with schools nationwide to help students connect, find their voices and become leaders in shaping positive school culture. Founded in 2021, the program is recognized for its interactive approach and its focus on respect, inclusivity, and collaboration.
Jason Jedamski, a national speaker who produced Ignite2Unite and travels across the country helping high schools foster respect, collaboration and inclusivity, led the event. Throughout the day, students participated in hands-on activities alongside staff members, encouraging teamwork and prompting discussions about the school’s strengths and areas for improvement.
A major focus of the program was reflection on the school. Participants shared honest perspectives on the pros and cons of the school environment and then brainstormed constructive ideas for improvement. The goal was not only to identify challenges but also to envision solutions that could enhance school spirit and student engagement in various activities.
Junior Sarina Dalal attended the event and reflected on the experience.
“This leadership program has helped me to understand how our school works and the areas in which we, as leaders of the school, feel our community needs improvement. We learned a lot about how we can take steps as leaders to improve our community, especially by contributing to the school by continuing to show up with enthusiasm,” she said.
The day concluded with an energetic finale: students engaged in a demonstration of chants and created school-spirit gear, filling the gym with an atmosphere of positivity and unity.
Paritosh Bhole, a senior and The Prowler Editor-in-Chief, spoke on how the event impacted him.
“It was a really engaging event that gave me a chance to reflect on how we can better our school. There’s definitely room to improve, and I think that this leadership day helped steer us in the right direction,” he said.
Ignite2Unite left participants motivated to take what they learned into their daily lives, building a stronger, more inclusive community and supporting one another through respect, collaboration and school spirit.
