Pairs of kindergarteners eagerly fist bumped. Others waved to each other. Some young students even did high fives with fifth graders!
There are all sorts of ways to say hello, the kindergarteners already knew. What Mrs. Walsh’s class discovered this morning through a visit from fifth graders Ashley, Nico, Naomi and Elke, and school psychologist Dr. Marlee Schwartz, was just how important a hello can be.
Start With Hello is a national program dedicated to empowering students to embrace empathy. At Increase Miller Elementary, the initiative also empowers older students in leadership.
“We had about 35 fifth graders sign up to participate in the Start with Hello Leadership Program,” said Assistant Principal Dr. Michael Weschler. Dr. Schwartz and school social worker Kiri Ryan meet with the students monthly, in small groups, to talk about social connection and preparing them to share lessons about inclusion with kindergarteners and first graders.
Kindergarteners and the fifth graders discussed the difference between someone who is lonely or having healthy alone time. They also learned about the Buddy Bench, the rainbow-colored bench in the playground where students could sit if they felt lonely, so others could reach out to them.
By the end of the engaging lesson, the kindergarteners had an action plan to connect with someone who may need a friend.
“Would you like to play tag at recess?”
“Do you want to sit together at lunch?”