'P.S. I Love You' Day In Hamptons Bays Counters Bullying, Suicide

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — Hampton Bays Middle School Students wearing purple poured their hearts into "P.S. I Love You Day" Friday, an event aimed at raising awareness about bullying and suicide while promoting kindness.

The day, which is held at school districts across Long Island, was spearheaded in Hampton Bays by teacher Carolanne Mazur.

P.S. I Love You Day is held on Long Island every second Friday of February. The awareness campaign was developed by Brooke DiPalma of West Islip in honor of her deceased father, a retired New York Police Department officer, who took his own life when she was 14 years old.

In Hampton Bays, members of the student council, Tri-M Music Honor Society and OWL Club teamed up to write positive messages on more than 400 sticky notes and place them on every student’s locker.

They also wrote over 100 positive messages to teachers on index cards, the district said.

In addition, students created two hallway displays carrying the themes of “I Am” and “We Will Rise,” and the student body showed collective support on Feb. 11 by wearing purple, the initiative’s color, to school.

To extend their kindness beyond school walls, students raised money for Joe’s Project, a Family Service League program that supports those surviving loss by suicide, by selling and purchasing heart stickers, officials said.

Eighth grade students Mariana Aguero and Connie Penafiel, who spent extra hours volunteering for P.S. I Love You Day, said they were happy to participate.

“There are students who may not have any friends and feel left out,” said Aguero, who serves as student council president. “But we are a community in this school, and we are here to support each other.”

With reporting by Maureen Mullarky.