Hello. Sometimes, that one word is all it takes to ease someone’s loneliness or fear, or to find a new friend. At Albert Leonard Middle School and Isaac E. Young Middle School, students learned the power of that word during “Start with Hello” Week, September 14-18.
“Our school proudly participated in ‘Start With Hello’ Week, teaching students the valuable skills of reaching out, including others, and reducing social isolation,” said Albert Leonard Assistant Principal Elizabeth Alvarez-Pena. “It was wonderful to see our entire building embrace the daily themes.”
On Tuesday, students wore name tags designed to spark conversations and learn each other’s names, while Wednesday saw students dress in green to show unity against social isolation. Thursday was a day for connecting with trusted adults in the building, ensuring that every child knows they have a support system. Students closed out the week on Friday, showing their collective connectedness.
Jennifer Vivolo-Carsen, Isaac E. Young reading teacher, started “Start with Hello Week” back in 2017 after participating in the New York City marathon on behalf of Sandy Hook Promise. “This week reminds students that we are one IEY community,” Vivolo-Carsen said. “I am also always impressed by how willing students are to participate.”
A new sixth grader said, “ ‘Start with Hello Week’ helped welcome me to IEY by showing me that this is a place where I can be included and welcomed and cared for.”
As part of the week, students wrote kind messages and affirmations and left them in places for other students to find. Sixth grader Sophia Aguilar said, “I loved the locker note because it was special.”
