Sachem Students Create Connections

SACHEM, NY - From Sachem Central School District: A sense of community radiated throughout the halls of Hiawatha Elementary School in the Sachem Central School District as the Peer Education class from Sachem High School North visited to share a special lesson with fourth- and fifth-grade students.

During the event, High School North seniors in Jonathan Chiaramonte’s Peer Education class delivered an important message about acceptance – noting that everyone has more in common than one may sometimes think. With the assistance of the high school mediators, students participated in a collection of classroom
activities that made them more familiar with their fellow classmates.

One game incorporated a numbered beach ball and each number correlated with different questions for the students to answer. Students shared things that they were afraid of, their initial feelings on moving up to the next grade level and people who inspire them. Another activity, named Cross the Line, called for students to
listen to a series of questions and take a step forward when they identified with the question.

“Activities like Cross the Line give students the chance to get to know their peers on a different level,” said senior Nick Cariello. “Through their participation, they learned that we share similar qualities, feelings and experiences.”

Concluding the day’s activities, students returned to their classrooms where they reflected upon their experiences from a day of recognizing the commonalities that exist among their peers.

Photo courtesy of the Sachem Central School District