Wearing polka dots in honor of International Dot Day, the entire student body at Marion Street School came together to launch their theme for the year, “Make your mark, make it matter.”
International Dot Day is named for the Peter H. Reynolds book “The Dot,” which tells the story of a girl who started on a journey of self-discovery when her art teacher encouraged her to “just make a mark and see where it takes you.” Inspired by this idea, International Dot Day encourages students and teachers to make the world a better place through “creativity, courage and collaboration.”
Students launched their campaign by reading “The Dot” and creating colorful displays of dots that will remind them to make it matter throughout the year. They recalled how their participation in events such as Pennies for Patients, Hoops for Heart, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, Pinwheels for Peace and Share a Smile, among others, have made a difference in their community. As the school year progresses, students will be encouraged to think of ways they can work together to make their mark. They ended their celebration with an inspiring rendition of “The Dot Song.”
Marion Street’s Dot Day campaign was initiated through the collaborative efforts of music teacher Kara Boulay, art teacher Patricia Wierzbicki, and student council advisers Coleen Maher and MaryKate Emmerich.
Photo Captions:
1. Wearing polka dots, Marion Street second-graders Olivia Marafioti (left), Viviana Gannascoli, Clara Larke and Samantha Colarossi, pledged to “make a mark.”
2. Second-graders Ethan Lunati (left) and Olivia Ramirez, third-grader Payton Stalter and second-grader Grayson Seideman dressed in polka dots for Marion Street School’s International Dot Day celebration.
3. Marion Street first-graders Sharon Alfred, Katelyn Ciprian and Camilla Escobar sported polka dots to remind them to make it matter.
Photos courtesy of Lynbrook Union Free School District
