Kindness and caring are key at EJR as they kick off Start With Hello, No Place for Hate

Start With Hello encourages students to make an effort to connect with others, especially fellow students they may not know well or someone having a hard time.

A man with dark hair and glasses smiles as he stands with a group of 10 elementary age kids. The students are holding colorful signs that say EJR Rocks.

EJR Assistant Principal Anthony Muia provided an interactive workshop for all students, showing them how powerful it is to reach out to others. They practiced conversation starters, which brought lots of smiles to everyone! Kindness matters for sure. Compliment others, stand up for someone who needs it. It all starts with hello.

An older elementary age boy with short dark hair smiles as he holds a yellow sign that says Start with Hello PB. There are smiling faces, hearts and butterfly stickers on the poster. There is a woman with him, with long dark hair, wearing an orange shirt. She is smiling too.

As the school’s kick off to No Place for Hate, each class discussed what No Place for Hate means to them.

A boy wearing glasses and a long-sleeve blue shirt sits at his desk and talks using his hands. On his desk is a chromebook and next to him are four students who are listening. The girl next to him has long dark hair and is watching him intently.

Sean Blessing’s fifth-grade class had plenty to contribute. They said that making EJR a No Place for Hate school meant being kind to others, even if you don’t know them. Respecting others who don’t look like you, worship like you or have different opinions. We should be upstanders, the class agreed, by responding to those who aren’t doing the right thing. Everyone should be treated fairly. Have a look at the short video.

A man wearing a gray shirt that says EJR on it claps. He is standing next to a row of desks where boys are sitting and clapping.

Each member of the class then signed the No Place for Hate pledge and recited it in solidarity.

A fifth-grade girl, wearing a blue tie dye hoodie leans over a desk and signs her name to a piece of paper that says No Place for Hate Promise. Her hair is long and dark, pulled back into a ponytail.

A fifth-grade boy leans over a desk and signs his name to a piece of paper. Behind him are three boys waiting to do the same.

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Kindness and caring are key at EJR as they kick off Start With Hello, No Place for Hate