“Start with Hello”

Brentwood, NY (September 2018)—The Brentwood Union Free School District (BUFSD) recently participated in the Sandy Hook Promise “Start with Hello” Week, an initiative designed to create a culture of inclusion for all students. Brentwood faculty members organized various student activities throughout the week to promote an inclusive and connected environment.

“Fostering a welcoming atmosphere for students is a priority in the Brentwood Union Free School District,” said Superintendent of Schools Richard Loeschner. “The faculty in the district continues to actively work together to provide our students with the necessary tools for positive student engagement.”

At East Middle School, faculty members distributed “hello” cards to each student and encouraged them to share greetings with their peers who seemed isolated. The guidance office led conversations with students to provide advice on how they can become more inclusive in their social interactions. While in the cafeteria, students spread positivity by decorating Post-It Notes with encouraging words and phrases for posting to the “Change Someone’s Day” banner. The students also decorated another banner with different steps that could be taken to make a classmate’s day.

“Our goal is to eliminate any feelings of isolation for all of our students,” said assistant principal of East Middle School, Michael McGinn. “The focus is to encourage students to think proactively about what they can say when they approach someone who looks like they could use someone to speak to.”

The Sandy Hook Promise “Start with Hello” Week brings attention to the social isolation epidemic and provides initiatives for schools to use to combat this persuasive problem. The focus is to show students that taking an initiative to say “hello” can have a lasting positive impact on individuals who struggle with social development.

For more information on the Brentwood Union Free School District, please visit the district’s website at www.brentwood.k12.ny.us.