Mars Area School District will commemorate Children’s Grief Awareness Day (Thursday, Nov. 21) by asking all students, teachers and staff members to wear the color blue.

The purpose of the day is to create awareness about the needs of grieving children because of the loss of a parent, sibling or another close family member and to show support for those students in the District’s schools.

Students at both Mars Area Elementary School and Mars Area Primary Center are reading the book, “CAPE” by Kevin Johnson, which discusses methods for processing grief. At Mars Area Primary Center, students are decorating capes as part of a supplementary activity.

At Mars Area Elementary School, students are making paper butterflies, on which they can add positive messages, pictures, or write the name of a family member or someone whom they have lost. The butterflies are on display as part of a memory wall of honor at the schools.

In their art classes, all elementary students (K-6) are also being invited to participate in The Highmark Caring Place’s 2024-2025 Children’s Grief Poster Contest. All contest submissions must be submitted to the appropriate art teacher or school counselor by no later than Friday, Jan. 31.

For more information, contact the individual school building or visit www.highmarkcaringplace.com/cp2/events/cgad.shtml.