By Bridget Crespo, MSW Intern for The PATH at Carteret Junior High School
Promoting Kindness, Connection, and Inclusion
Carteret Junior High School participated in Start With Hello Week with activities focused on kindness, connection, and helping students feel included within their school community. The week encouraged students to think about how small actions can make a difference, especially for someone who may be feeling left out, alone, or disconnected.
Start With Hello encourages students to reach out to others, show empathy, and help create a school environment where everyone feels seen and supported. Something as simple as saying hello, sitting with someone new, or checking in with a classmate can be an important first step toward building stronger connections.
Students Take the Start With Hello Promise
As part of the week, The PATH hosted a Start With Hello table where students could stop by and complete a Promise Pledge. The pledge encouraged students to show empathy toward others, reach out to peers who may feel alone or left out, speak up when something does not seem right, and take the first step toward creating a connection.
Students were able to sign their pledge and show their support for creating a more welcoming school community. The activity also gave students the opportunity to talk about what it means to include others and why reaching out can matter.
Students who visited the table also received Start With Hello stickers and small treats. The stickers helped spread the message throughout the building and gave students a simple way to show that they were participating in the week.
Celebrating Different Ways to Say Hello
Another activity gave students the chance to participate in a scavenger hunt involving the word “hello” in five different languages. This added a fun and interactive part to the week while also connecting the message of inclusion to the different cultures and backgrounds represented within the school.
Students worked to identify the different ways to say hello, and ten students were selected to receive prizes for completing the activity. The scavenger hunt showed students that connection can start in many different ways and that even a simple greeting can help someone feel welcomed.
Small Actions Can Make a Difference
Start With Hello Week was a positive way to remind students that they all have a role in creating a supportive school environment. Reaching out to someone, starting a conversation, or noticing when a peer may be feeling left out may seem small, but those actions can have a real impact.
Activities like the Promise Pledge and scavenger hunt gave students a chance to participate in a way that was both meaningful and fun. The week also reinforced the idea that kindness and inclusion are not limited to one event, but are things students can continue practicing throughout the school year.
A big thank you to all of the students who participated and helped spread the Start With Hello message throughout Carteret Junior High School!