For schools
How to get your school involved
Support rare whānau in your community!
In Aotearoa, more than 300,000 people live with one or more of the 7,000 known rare disorders. Half of those affected are children. That’s the equivalent of 1-2 students in every classroom.
With so many tamariki affected, we would love schools and kura to help us make rare tamariki feel supported and valued in their community by supporting Rare Disorders Month. It is also a great way of teaching all students about the value of diversity and inclusion.
There are so many ways your school can Glow Up and Show Up for Rare. See below for ideas and resources.
Template letter to #GlowUp your school
If you would like to encourage your school to get involved, you may find the below template letter helpful.
Ideas to #GlowUpShowUp at school
Glow Up clothing/accessory day
Run a Glow Up clothing/accessory gold coin day on Rare Disease Day (the last day of February) or any day during the month of Rare Disorders Month in March.
Share photos on social media and tag @RareDisordersNZ
A great option to get all students involved from year 1-13.
Colour Run
Organise a colour run fundraiser during the month of March so students can glow up and show up for the rare disorder community and have a lot of fun in the process!
A great option to get all students involved year 1-13.
School Disco
Host a disco where students can dress in bright or neon coloured clothes and accessories and bring a gold coin for Rare Disorders NZ.
Best for students year 1-8.
Temporary tattoos
We’d love to send you some of our temporary tattoos and to see posts on social media of your school community raising your hands to #GlowUpShowUp for rare. This is a great, easy way to get involved, if time and resources are tight.
Order tattoos by emailing RDNZadmin@raredisorder.org.nz.
Speech competition
Hold a speech competition as a way for students to engage in self-directed learning to become knowledgeable and interested in learning about rare disorders, while encouraging the audience to do the same.
Best for students year 8-13.
Lesson plan
Teachers who are keen to weave this cause into the class can access these template lesson plans as a way to raise awareness and give context and relevance to other activities your school is engaging in for Rare Disorders NZ.
Lesson plans are available for primary and intermediate aged students.
If your school does organise any of these events, please keep us in the loop! We'd love to see photos and give you a shout-out on social media! Contact RDNZadmin@raredisorders.org.nz.
If you raise funds through your school event and would like to know how best to get them to us, email accounts@raredisorders.org.nz.
