WEST MIFFLIN — The SAVE Promise Club at West Mifflin Area Middle School celebrated Start with Hello Week last week.
Start with Hello brings attention to the growing epidemic of social isolation, and empowers young people to create a culture of inclusion and connectedness within their schools, youth organizations, and communities.
The SAVE Promise Club seeks to prevent violence and victimization in schools by educating and mobilizing people through mental health and wellness programs. Staff members Stacy Galiyas and Bree Thompson are co-sponsors of the club.
On Monday, club members greeted each student at all entrances of the school and said hello to them. The club also passed out stickers which reminded students to be inclusive and say hello to others to create unity in the student body.
Tuesday was Upstander Tuesday. Students were rewarded by teachers with Upstander-Grams and Lifesavers for being “Life Savers” by going above and beyond to include others and make other students feel welcome. At lunchtime, students filled out upstander grams for their peers to thank them for being upstanders in the school and helping to create a unified student body.
On Wear Green Wednesday, students wore green to promote mental health awareness and stand united on the importance of having a positive social culture in school. Students were able to take and keep positive pocket messages as a reminder that “They are enough” and that they are a positive part of the school.
Thursday marked Trusted Adult Thursday. Students were invited to thank a trusted adult in the building by writing a quick “thank you” note to be given to their trusted adult. Hershey’s Kisses also were given out to represent their thankfulness of the adults in the building that are there for the students. Additionally, teachers wore shirts that said, “Say something to me, I’m a trusted adult.”
Friday was Moving Forward Fri-Yay. Students in grades 4-8 signed a pledge to have empathy for those around them, reach out to peers who may be alone, left out, or isolated, and to be an upstanders who uses their voice when something seems wrong.