Students at William O. Schaefer Elementary School are recognizing Start With Hello Week through group activities, acts of kindness, themed spirit days and even a school-wide chalk mosaic that focus on fostering connections with their classmates.
“Start With Hello was created to help students and staff members create and sustain an inclusive school community by implementing three simple steps. If you see someone alone, reach out and help by starting with “Hello”. I hope Start with Hello Week benefits new and returning students at WOS by spreading kindness, demonstrating empathy and encouraging students to be more socially inclusive and connected to each other,” explained WOS School Counselor Tennille Marino. “This week, students are given many opportunities to greet and engage with one another to create a welcoming school environment for all.”
To kick off the week, Marino, WOS Principal Sheila Beglin and Assistant Principal Brian Galvin hosted a new student check-in on Monday for any first and second grade students who are new to SOCSD. Students broke into small groups to get to know each other and talk about how they like their new school. Beglin and Galvin told students that everyone at WOS is there to help them and support them as they adjust to a new school.
Marino is also pushing into classrooms this week to introduce herself to students and explain her role at WOS. When visiting first graders in Sara Vero and Shannon Russo’s class, Marino read the class “The Rabbit Listened” by Cori Doerrfeld and explained how she is somebody they can come to talk to about whatever they are feeling.
