School Holds Breast Cancer Awareness Walk

Students and staff at United Charter High School for the Humanities IV walked a mile around their track to mark breast cancer awareness month.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Secondary Education

Screen-print poster illustration of a looping running track in warm mustard and teal, with a small rust-pink accent, evoking a school community walk for awareness. — United Charter High School for the Humanities IV held its first Breast Cancer Awareness Walk during the school day at its Beach Channel campus in Rockaway Beach, organized by social worker Kassandra Smallwood. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

United Charter High School for the Humanities IV held its first Breast Cancer Awareness Walk last week during the school day at its Beach Channel campus in Rockaway Beach. Teens, teachers, administrators, and staff took part in a one-mile loop around the track.

Why it matters

The walk was organized to bring attention to breast cancer awareness and emphasize community support, highlighting the need for early detection, prevention, and hope for a cure. For New York City families, it shows how schools are building health awareness into the instructional day.

The walk covered one mile around the school track at the Beach Channel campus, a school of around 219 students. The total number of participants was not disclosed, and the school has not said whether the walk will become an annual event.

The players

Kassandra Smallwood

A school social worker at United Charter High School for the Humanities IV who organized the Breast Cancer Awareness Walk.

United Charter High School for the Humanities IV

A public charter high school with a campus in Rockaway Beach, Queens, serving around 219 students.

The details

The walk was made part of instructional time and included cheers for breast cancer survivors along with a moment of silence for those who died from the disease. It was organized by school social worker Kassandra Smallwood.

Last week, during the school day, the walk took place as part of instructional time.

Seasonal Health Observance

The walk follows the national October observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, bringing that awareness campaign into a school-day activity in New York City. It shows how an annual health observance can be built into a school's instructional schedule.

For New York City families with high school students, the walk shows how schools can integrate health awareness events into the regular school day without a separate after-hours program. Parents interested in similar school health activities can ask their child's school whether awareness events are part of the instructional calendar.

The takeaway

Schools can make health awareness part of the school day by pairing it with physical activity and community recognition, as this walk did with its survivor cheers and moment of silence. Families can ask their schools how they incorporate similar health events into instruction.