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Each year, thousands of schools and youth organizations nationwide participate in Start With Hello Week, a national call-to-action week dedicated to making new social connections and creating a sense of belonging among youth. Sandy Hook Promise sponsors this initiative and is a national nonprofit organization founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. Based in Newtown, Connecticut, our intent is to honor all victims of gun violence by turning our tragedy into a moment of transformation. By empowering youth to “know the signs” and uniting all people who value the protection of children, we can take meaningful actions in schools, homes, and communities to prevent gun violence and stop the tragic loss of life.
Our Bobcats participated in a lesson during Advisory that included stories, discussion and activities. The discussions centered around seeing someone alone, recognizing social isolation, starting conversations and starting with a "hello". Our 8th grade PAL students taught the lessons to our 6th grade Advisory classes. Students participated in dress-up days, wore green bracelets and were given stickers in the mornings to show support.
All students were led in Advisory class lessons about the importance of noticing someone sitting alone, social isolation, being bullied, being left out, feeling included, inclusivity, and feelings of being alone. Students were taught strategies to reach out, say hello, start a conversation and role play in scenarios. Students engaged in discussion questions and used sentence starters to communicate and practice skills. Students wrote on a chain link (paper strip) what they could do to reach out and help someone who seems alone or left out. PAL (8th grade students who some are on the NPFH committee) taught the lesson to 6th grade Advisory classes. NPFH committee members connected all of the chain links and hung them outside of the library with a “Start With Hello” banner. NPFH committee members and PALS greeted students and staff each morning with stickers, green wristbands, signs and posters with a high-five-Friday to help everyone feel welcomed, respected, SEEN and included.
