From Sept. 16-20, schools nationwide can sign up for a program called Start With Hello Week. The program is run by Sandy Hook Promise, an organization started by a group of parents whose children were lost in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on Dec. 12, 2014. The purpose behind Start With Hello Week was to create safer and kinder school environments, and it functions as one of Sandy Hook Promise’s Know the Sign programs.
The program runs on three main steps: see someone sitting alone, reach out to help and Start With Hello.
By completing these steps, people may befriend someone by themselves, making them feel more welcome at school. The idea of Start With Hello is to help schools feel more cheerful and friendly to everyone. Miami Palmetto Senior High has elected to participate in the nationwide program.
“It’s been a thing at the school for a while,” senior and Student Council Chief of Staff Peyton Byrd said. “I think it was something Mrs. Valero wanted, as well as Mrs. Dobbs.”
Throughout the week, MPSH Student Council’s School Safety Senate Committee held different activities in the courtyard during both lunches, so that students could come and explore.
On Sept.16, the activity’s main focus was emphasizing togetherness and turning social isolation into student connection. By creating a paper chain with the things people love written on them, students helped foster a sense of togetherness.
“Luckily, we haven’t had anything that’s too scary of an incident, and I think that’s because we are able to promote a kinder environment,” senior and School Safety member Haylee Hansen said. “It’s because we’re able to do these activities that unite us together.”
On Sept. 17, students could sign the Upstander Pledge, which means they are committed to being an active bystander and taking action to help other students when they see them. Some ideals that are emphasized in the pledge are being assertive, inclusive and opening yourself to others’ experiences.
While there was no activity in the courtyard on Sept. 18, there was a more schoolwide way to show support: wearing green. By seeing people all over the school wearing green, it can be helpful for people that may be feeling alone to know they are not.
The activity for Sept. 19, Connect with a Trusted Adult, allowed students to write down the names of a few adults, whether they be teachers, other faculty or just other people that they feel could be trusted with possibly personal or private information. This activity is useful to students who find themselves in need of adult assistance and need someone to speak to.
“We’re basically going to have a sign where we can have people write down who their most trusted adult at the school is, whether it’s a teacher or faculty member,” Hansen said. “And … if someone feels like they’re unsafe, or if they feel like they need to talk to someone, but they’re new here, they can look and they’re like, ‘Oh, everyone keeps saying, X teacher. That means that they’re trustworthy and, I can confide in them if I feel like I need it.’”
Finally, Friday allowed students to show off their school pride by wearing their MPSH spirit.
Throughout its existence, Start With Hello Week has reduced bullying, as well as increased connections with students in all schools. At MPSH, these goals have also been achieved, thanks to the activities set up by Student Council School Safety.
“We’ve gotten so many people volunteering and helping and signing up for pledges, or just writing down something that they love,” junior and School Safety member Adam Olster said. “It just makes me feel very included.”
