East Islip School District students and staff celebrated Start With Hello Week with activities centered on kindness, inclusion and building a stronger sense of belonging.

At Ruth C. Kinney Elementary School, students wore name tags on “Say Hello” Day to encourage classmates to greet one another and make new connections.

“It’s a great reminder that simple acts, like just saying hello to someone, can make a big difference,” Principal Tom Sallee said. “In order for students to be ready to tackle challenging academic work, they have to feel connected and a sense of belonging.”

At Timber Point Elementary School, members of the Mental Health Team visited every K-2 classroom to talk about helping others feel included. School counselor Kate Scuderi, social worker Joan D’Angelo and school psychologist Amy Egen read “The Invisible Boy” by Trudy Ludwig and discussed how a simple hello, an invitation to play or a kind word can help someone feel welcome. Students and staff also took part in a spirit week from Sept. 22-25, with daily activities encouraging kindness and connection.