EG Schools Celebrate 'Start With Hello' Week

EAST GREENWICH, RI—This week, all the public schools in East Greenwich are participating in 'Start with Hello' week, an effort to make all the youngsters feel included in the community. The concept was started by Sandy Hook Promise, a group formed after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

"Start with Hello teaches students the skills they need to reach out to and include those who may be dealing with chronic social isolation and create a culture of inclusion and connectedness within their school or youth organization," the district said. The idea is that future tragedies like Sandy Hook might be prevented by reaching out to people at risk.

Here are some of the activities, according to the school district's press release.

Frenchtown: Hello name tag day, Banner Day (student-signed banner hung in cafeteria), Green Day (wearing green and eating green snacks), Buddy Up Day (partner reading among grade levels), Fun For All Friday.

Meadowbrook: Name tags, “A Blizzard of Kindness” (students write acts of kindness on snowballs and decorate the school), Hello banner and wear green day, no one eats or plays alone.

Hanaford: All Town Meetings to discuss Start With Hello, morning announcements, making new friends during recess and wellness time, sit with someone different at lunch, wear green.

Eldredge: Start With Hello classroom discussions, name tag day, student greeters, banner signing, wear green and whole school photo with banner.

Cole: Cole Interact Club takes the lead. Student and teacher morning greeters, posters/selfies with #StartWithHello, staff sign the “Hello pledge,” Start With Hello presentation, kindness messages and pledges, poster contest, wear green, no one eats alone.

East Greenwich High School: Student Council and Best Buddies take the lead. Rock to be sprayed green in support of Start With Hello, “A smile for everyone” Day, post-its posted with student messages (hundreds collected), posters/selfies #StartWithHello, wear green, no one eats alone.