Going back to school is an exciting time of year. It’s a fresh start and an opportunity to make new friends and learn new things.
After a long summer break, most parents were itching to get the kids back into a routine, but for some students the first day of school brings a lot of fear and anxiety — especially if they are new to the school and don't know anyone.
On Labour Day in 2018, Bradford mother Diane Osborne and her two daughters Rylie, 10, and eight-year-old Reese, decided to help calm some of the first-day-of-school jitters by writing welcoming, inspiring messages in front of St. Marie of the Incarnation school on Colborne Street.
This year, they decided to continue the tradition and walked over to the school on Monday evening to write some new messages.
“Hopefully it will put a smile on a student, parent or teacher’s face,” Osborne said. “I’m sure there is going to be way more students due to more portables being dropped and our community growing the way it is. It’s just a nice reminder to stay kind and welcome new students to our school.”
The girls and Osborne had pre-selected inspiring messages they found on Pinterest. Some of the messages included things like “Be A Buddy, Not a Bully” and “We Rise By Lifting Others.”
Earlier last week, Osborne shared her sidewalk chalk message idea on a few of Bradford’s Facebook pages, hoping to get the word out and inspire others to do the same at their schools.
“My intention of sharing my post was to get more people out at their local schools and spread the love,” she explained.
And the message was heard by some. A few other families did the same thing on Monday at Chris Hadfield Public School (CHPS) in Grand Central.
"We did it for the kids that maybe needed that extra bit of encouragement," said Kristi Carlisle, who brought her seven-year-olf daughter Kylie to do some chalk art at CHPS.
Along with Carlisle and Kylie were friends Carolyn Horton and seven-year-old daughter, Peyton.
"We honestly didn't do it for any recognition, just hope it helps someone who needed that extra boost," said Carlisle. "It helped our girls get excited about the first day too."
Both Osborne and the mothers from Grand Central said they would like to continue this tradition next year and get even more people involved.
“You never know what someone else might be going through,” Osborne said about the meaning behind the messages.
