Pictured: Thomas J. Lahey Elementary School unveiled its new Butterfly Friendship Wall on June 5, with Holocaust survivors Meir and Doris Usherovitz in attendance.
Photo courtesy of Harborfields Central School District
Thomas J. Lahey Elementary School in the Harborfields Central School District unveiled its new Butterfly Friendship Wall in the west courtyard on June 5, part of the school’s fourth annual No Place for Hate initiative.
TJL’s students participated in the project during art classes. Art teacher Stephanie Hansen read “The Sneetches” by Dr. Seuss to third and fourth grade students and “The Butterfly” by Patricia Pollaco to fifth graders. Each class participated in a discussion about the importance of being an upstander to help others in need. The students painted ceramic butterflies for placement on the Friendship Wall and discussed how the butterflies are symbols of resilience and hope.
For the unveiling ceremony, TJL invited Holocaust survivors Meir and Doris Usherovitz to attend and address the attendees. As the survivors walked to the courtyard, students lined the hallways to pay their respects. Two students from each class attended the unveiling as well as staff and community members who helped with the project. The remainder of the student body was able to view the ceremony via streaming into the classrooms.
“This project focused on the power one person has to make a difference,” Assistant Principal Andrea Horowitz said. “At the ceremony, we shared that this is not the end of a project, but just the beginning. We intend to utilize the space to problem-solve, work together and continue to make a difference.”
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