Mars Area School District will commemorate Children’s Grief Awareness Day (Thursday, Nov. 16) 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.
In their STEAM classes at Mars Area Elementary School, students (Grades 2-4) collaborated on making a bullying prevention video (www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjvvnXRjmkc). The students recorded a variety of messages reminding their classmates to “Team Up Against Bullying” and to help make the school safe, happy, and welcoming for all.
In addition, the students are making paper butterflies, on which they can add positive messages, pictures, or write the name of a family members or someone whom they have lost. Students will also have an opportunity to add their butterflies to a memory wall of honor on display at the school.
Students at both Mars Area Elementary School and Mars Area Primary Center are reading the book, “The Invisible String” by Patrice Karst, which discusses the invisible strings that connect loved ones. In addition, Mars Area Primary Center students are writing encouraging messages and pictures on blue pieces of paper that will be added to a paper chain to be hung around the school.
In their art classes, all elementary students (K-6) will also be invited to participate in The Caring Place poster contest. All contest submissions must be submitted to the appropriate art teacher or school counselor by no later than Friday, Jan. 26.
For more information, visit www.highmarkcaringplace.com/cp2/events/cgad.shtml.