Deer Lakes Middle School participated last week in Start With Hello Week, an initiative through the Sandy Hook Promise.

Thousands of schools and youth organizations nationwide participate in Start With Hello Week, a national call-to-action week dedicated to making new social connections and creating a sense of belonging among youth.

Here's what our students participated in each day:

Students were offered the opportunity at AM bus time to sign a Promise Pledge to support those who are left out and positively acknowledge their peers.

Students and staff could show appreciation to any student that displays the characteristics of an upstander in the school community by drafting a note of thanks and encouragement. 

Students wore green as a symbol of unity and solidarity of the Start with Hello Week message.

Students were given the opportunity to write a letter of thanks to a trusted adult in their life - in or out of school. 

Students participated in a mix it up lunch where they sat at a randomly selected table to get to meet new classmates.