Local Students Create “Hands of Hope” in Remembrance of Sandy Hook

Written by Bea Karnes 

Bullis Charter School already emphasizes STEAM—Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math. It may need to work another letter into the acronym, a second E for Empathy.

BCS teacher Jessica Lura co-wrote a lesson called “Hands of Hope” with former U.S. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, and Nicole Hockley, a parent who lost her first grade son Dylan in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown last year.

This Saturday, Dec. 14, marks the anniversary of that tragic event. (Click here to send your message of hope to Newtown.)

According to BCS spokeswoman Emily Nelson, the Los Altos charter school is the flagship school for Hands of Hope.

Students participate by creating hand cut-outs with “I hope…” messages on them.

In a video made by the school, one student read her message, “I hope that no matter how many horrible things happen, our nation will come together as one and learn to love each other.”

Fourth Grade Teacher Amanda Marino believes it’s important to take the time for projects like this, “By working together as a class they can come up with a lot of great ideas that can actually help other people and make other people feel good.” 

Students in three different countries are participating. It’s expected that more than 5,000 kids will take part by the anniversary.