Embracing the nationally-acclaimed, student-initiated No One Eats Alone program on February 12th, students embodied the concept of inclusion and value with their peers. Inviting others to sit with them and in one case, sitting with a student who sat alone, students at Smithville Junior High made sure that everyone felt included during their lunch hour.
“It’s just about including others in we do and making sure that everyone has a friend,” said Mrs. Campbell. “What the initiative hopes is that you gain a friend. I think we’ll see some of these students hanging with their new groups.”
All smiles! Counselor Mrs. Stacy Campbell and Principal Dr. Bethany Logan were pleased with the 100 percent student participation and enthusiasm with the event. While eating, students were talking to those they might not usually be around and learning more about their fellow students.
Mrs. Campbell and Dr. Logan also created a festive atmosphere by decorating with balloons, passing out stickers, and playing fun, lively music which the students responded to positively.
Dr. Logan also helped serve students in one of the food lines.
“Everybody loves to be a part of something,” said Mrs. Campbell. “Our students are important, and we want them to feel like an important part of the junior high.”
According to their website, No One Eats Alone, Beyond Differences' most popular program, is a stand-alone event that takes place during lunch at school. During the event, students make a difference on their own middle school campus by making sure that everyone is included at lunch and students sit with new friends and classmates.
For more about the national program to end social isolation, visit
www.nooneeatsalone.org.
