In an effort to let kids be kids again as much as possible, Pelham Together hosted events—FREE—for each of the middle school grades over the last two weeks. Students chose activities from a list of options— 8th grade chose a Movie Night and 6th and 7th grades both chose Skate Night. Over 120 8th graders had The Picture House all to themselves to watch Spiderman: No Way Home, enjoying popcorn, and being together. Equally as popular were the Open Skate Nights, with over 100 6th and 7th graders, respectively, enjoying a night of skating, music, food, and each other’s company! There were even teachers there to skate with the kids, as well as a couple of the JV and (State Champion) Varsity Hockey players!! All activities, rentals, refreshments were provided free of charge to the students.

When we look for ways to support the social and emotional health of our young people after this long period of separation, let’s remember how beneficial (and simple) it can be to promote the chance to spend unstructured time with each other. They need time to be social, to build those skills back up again, to take safe risks in the way they communicate and connect with one another. And what a bonus for them to do this as a grade…bonding in ways that we know they love to do,—it’s one of the reasons that the PMHS Olympics tradition is such a treasured experience when they get to the high school. Those bonds can and should start early….it keeps them healthy and makes them happy.

Thank you to our volunteers from the PT planning committee, Danielle Marrero (PT Youth Advocate) and Jenn Kitay (PMS Teacher and PT Club Advisor), parent chaperones, the PMS PTA, JV and Varsity hockey players, and The Picture House and Ice Hutch for helping to make these events possible. We look forward to more opportunities to be together in the future!

If you would like to see more events like this in the future, please consider donating to Pelham Together. If you would like to help to plan these sorts of events, please volunteer your time to be on our committee by emailing Laura Caruso at lcaruso@pelhamtogether.org. Thank you!