Suzanne Middle School students recently got a lesson in making and keeping friends.

The school hosted its inaugural Friendship Summit on Jan. 19.  The entire sixth-grade class participated in activities, including making a kindness chain reaction and a spider web.  They played Simon Says and did a star activity after viewing “The Sneetches” video.

The lessons encouraged the students to be themselves, get to know someone before making judgments about them, be a friend in order to make one, and recognize that everybody is a star.

Teacher Marla Rickard and sixth-grade counselor GeorgeAnn Cusson led the activities, along with the Peer Assisted Leaders (PALS) and sixth grade teachers.

“It was so exciting to look around and see kids helping kids.  The summit gave them the opportunity to meet someone new, listen to those around them, and to enjoy being with each other in a world where people are often competing for recognition,” said Rickard, the PALS advisor.  “These kids were given the chance to celebrate the unique qualities they have.”

Cusson said the students responded well to the lessons.

“It was a very positive day and our students had a great time while learning about friendship,” Cusson said.

Brock Cooper, a sixth grader, said his favorite part of the event was "the field activities, especially the Gotcha game because it was active and fun."

“I learned we should make friends with people and not let them down,” he said.

Fellow sixth grader Kelly Chen said she enjoyed the games.

“I liked the Giants, Wizards, and Elves game because when you have nothing to do you can get some friends together and play that game,” she said.  “I also liked Spider Web because people said what they would like in a friend and it taught me how to be a better friend.”

Paolo Monong, an eighth-grade PAL member, said that the sixth grade is a good time for students to learn the lessons of getting along with their peers. 

“The sixth graders are still trying to figure out who they are and how they fit in,” he said. “They are still growing as people and have a lot of potential. I learned how we can influence other people by just doing one action.”

The Friendship Summit provided an introduction to No Name-Calling Week held January 23-27.  Thousands of schools participated in that annual event aimed at putting an end to name-calling of all kinds.

All Walnut Valley Schools hosted educational activities to celebrate the message of the program including wearing No Name-Calling ribbons and buttons, participating in classroom lessons and discussions, door decorating contests, and signing No Name-Calling Bill of Rights.

Collegewood Elementary students focused on saying nice things to each other.  By the end of the week, each student had a personalized paper with a list of compliments they received from their peers and teachers.