To create a community of welcoming, Martin Avenue Elementary School joined with the Sandy Hook Promise for the “Start With Hello” initiative from Sept. 15-19.

Principal Dr. Yannucci said this was the first year the program has been held at Martin Avenue, with a week of activities designed to strengthen the school community and empower students to build stronger peer relationships. There were also schoolwide spirit days in which students wore mismatched clothes, grade-level colors, shirts with positive or encouraging words and superhero attire.

Students in grades 4-6 took part in an interactive session, “The Power of Language.” During the presentation and discussion, they explored the lasting impact of words – how they can bring people together or cause harm. They discussed strategies to foster a positive school climate and learned the importance of interrupting hurtful language.

“It taught us a really meaningful lesson,” sixth grader Tyler Mattes said of the engaging and relevant presentation. “Don’t say things that put people down.”

His classmate, Delilah Lira, added that she and her classmates gained a better understanding of how to use their words in a positive way.

All students completed a Heart of Unity pledge. On paper hearts, they wrote ways to include others and the hearts were then added to a bulletin board to build the wall of unity. In the Heroic Kindness Quest, students were challenged to complete three secret kindness missions. Bingo Buddies Challenge was a way for students to learn about each other and make new friends. Students in grades K-3 attended a community building assembly.

Dr. Yannucci said he hoped that Start With Hello would show students how simply being welcoming can make a positive impact on their school and community.

“We need to keep reaching out, checking in on each other and extending kindness, care and respect,” he said. “Everything we do is working toward creating an inclusive school environment.”