Mill Pond Students Address Abuse and Cancer Topics

Information courtesy Maura Snell, Character Connections contributor.

This past month at , students participated in the Purple Hands Project and Hats On Day. Both programs are designed to teach the children, ages 9 through 12, violence prevention and cancer awareness as part of the school’s character education program.

For The Purple Hands Project, the 4th, 5th and 6th grade students traced their hands and signed a pledge reading, “I will not use my hands or my words for hurting myself or others!”

The project is part of a movement first started in Washington State in the 1990s in an effort to end abuse and violence in homes, schools and the community. It fit into the October theme of responsibility, as students were made aware that they are responsible for their own actions and words. Class discussions focused on paying attention to what we say and do that may cause pain to others, and the traced hands are displayed around the school as a continual reminder.

Hats On Day was a school-wide celebration designed to help raise awareness of the difficulties young cancer patients face. On Nov. 3, Mill Pond students were encouraged to wear hats or style their hair in a dramatic way as a reminder to be supportive and compassionate for children with cancer. Students learned that in developing awareness, they in turn develop a responsible nature, becoming more compassionate and supportive of others.

In the coming months, Westborough Patch will highlight more projects from the character education program in Character Connections.

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