West Hempstead students spread love and kindness

Love and kindness traveled across the West Hempstead School District as students in grades K through 12 participated in P.S. I Love You Day.

According to its website, P.S. I Love You Day was named after the nonprofit organization established by sisters Brooke and Jaimie DiPalma, whose father committed suicide in 2010. Observers of the day wear purple in a display of solidarity for the organization’s causes, which are to take a stance against bullying and to help end depression and prevent suicide.

Donning the initiative’s signature purple, students at Chestnut Street and Cornwell Avenue elementary schools crafted a quilt out of Post-it notes inscribed with characteristics of a good friend, such as caring, funny, thoughtful and nice. Students at George Washington Elementary School received purple hearts to pass along to cherished friends, family members and teachers. They also wrote heart-shaped letters to a person they love.

At the middle school, sixth- through eighth-grade students created “We Are the Change” banners during their lunch periods. Adding their own unique touches, they personalized the banners with illustrations and colorful paper hands bearing uplifting and compassionate messages.

Students and staff at the high school prepared for P.S. I Love You Day with Love Is Universal Week, a weeklong set of activities that promoted compassion, appreciation and love for one another. Students received badges for completing random acts of kindness, linked kindhearted words together in a paper “kindness chain,” and wrote notes of appreciation to classmates and teachers. Students and teachers were also encouraged to sign a “P.S. I Love You” poster and take photos in a photo booth during lunch periods.

The entire staff and student body at the high school were encouraged to wear purple and participate in the “Take One – Give One” Post-it note activity, which resulted in the lobby being filled with colorful sticky notes bearing messages of hope, love, empathy and compassion. Throughout the day, students were asked to take a note and keep it for themselves or give it to someone else.