Monroe County Schools will celebrate “Start with Hello” the week of September 16-20. Start with Hello is a program which emanates from the Sandy Hook Foundation.  Sandy Hook was the site of one of the most horrific school shootings of the last decade because of the age of the students involved, most were first and second graders.  Theresa Axford, Superintendent of Schools attended a Safe School Conference five years ago and met parents whose children were victims of the Sandy Hook massacre. They shared their stories and their efforts at making a difference for the future – the parents created the Sandy Hook Foundation to help with education and awareness of the dangers of social isolation and students who feel abandoned and or left out.

Because of that conference, Superintendent Axford brought back two programs to Monroe County Schools that support the mission of the Sandy Hook Foundation.  They are “Start with Hello” and “Say Something”.  “Start with Hello” has become a week- long event that features all sorts of great activities in schools.  The mission of “Start with Hello” is to make sure that every student feels that they are welcome and a part of what goes on in school.  The activities all focus on how important it is to be accepting of everyone despite individual differences.  Many times, people in general are suspicious of others who are different in looks, feelings and preferences yet these very people can be interesting and exciting as friends because they are different.  “Start with Hello” aims to bridge those gaps and help everyone to be accepted and valued.

The Monroe County School District also places emphasis on teaching students how to stay healthy and safe through their Healthy Living Curriculum.  Safer Smarter Kids which is a curriculum for students in grades Kindergarten through Grade 5 provides an opportunity for students to advocate for themselves in situations where they feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Personal safety shouldn’t be scary. That’s why Safer, Smarter Kids has become the nation’s leading personal safety curriculum, arming millions of elementary school students, educators, parents, and caregivers with knowledge and skills to protect against abuse, exploitation, and digital dangers from a place of empowerment and fun – not fear.  Students learn skills that last a lifetime in learning how to say: “No.”  “I don’t like that.”  very loudly when someone attempts to touch them or make them feel unsafe.  Being able to loudly vocalize distress is very off putting for both offending adults and children.  Loud voices also alert others to the fact that something inappropriate is going on.  These skills make students more self-reliant and confident.  Students role play scenarios and vocalize these words to help them really learn and understand how to protect themselves.