By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community Reporter
Photo/Melanie Petrucci
Southborough – Students and faculty of the Margaret A. Neary Elementary School gathered on a hill on the school grounds Sept. 14 to pose and form the word “HELLO” for a special photo. The students did so to help kick-off “Start with Hello Week.”
The school’s 14 classrooms, 261 fourth and fifth grade students, were joined by teachers and administrative staff.
Kathleen Valenti, Neary’s principal, explained that the school’s special week was held in solidarity with the Sandy Hook Promise, a nonprofit group formed by the loved ones of those who were killed in a massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 14, 2012.
The nonprofit organization’s goal is to turn their tragedy into a moment of transformation by providing programs and practices that protect children from gun violence. The group this year called for Sept. 24-28 to be “Start with Hello Week.” As they explained on their website, the week’s mission was to “teach children to reach out and include those who may be dealing with chronic social isolation.”
“This is something we do every year. Our Motto is ‘Choose Kind’ …beginning with saying ‘hello’ to a new friend,” Valenti explained. “It was the idea of one of our fifth grade teachers Jenn Turieo. It all begins with ‘hello’”.
This isn’t the first time the Neary School has formed words in unison. Last year they formed #CHOOSE KIND. In previous years they have created “USA” as well as the American flag.
Valenti also shared that Turieo will be coordinating an effort to collect left-over Halloween candy this year which will be packaged for military troops on active duty. The photo of the students forming “hello” will be included in those packages as well.
