(Pictured from left to right: Interim School Counselor for Wylandville Elementary Megan Hoffman, third grade student Erica Macino and Manager of The Caring Place Andrea Lurier.)
The Highmark Caring Place held its 7th Annual Children's Grief Awareness Day Poster Contest and invited local schools to participate. This year's theme was "Be Kind". Grieving students have shared with The Caring Place how even the smallest act of kindness has been helpful to them following a death. Nearly 50 Wylandville students participated in the Kindergarten through 5th Grade category. Erica Macino of Mrs. Phyrillas's 3rd Grade was chosen as a regional winner in the contest! Erica was awarded a certificate of recognition today and her poster will be duplicated and distributed to hundreds of schools throughout Pennsylvania and New York in the fall of 2023! All students earned participation certificates for their entries.
The Highmark Caring Place is a community resource for grieving children, adolescents, and families. Their core mission is to make a difference in the lives of grieving children. Founded in 1996, The Caring Place has helped countless families at no cost by providing a safe space to come together and be with others who have shared experiences in grief.
In addition to these peer support groups, the Caring Place provides educational programs, consultation services, presentations and resources for schools and other professionals in the community who work with children. The Caring Place continually works to raise awareness of the needs of grieving children and how to respond to those needs.
Megan Hoffman, Interim Elementary School Counselor at Wylandville and Borland Manor Elementary Schools this year, helped coordinate efforts between the Caring Place, where she regularly volunteers as a group leader, and Wylandville to make the project a success.
"It's so rewarding to see our kids get excited about the potential of helping other students who are going through something as difficult as grief. We have, undeniably, the kindest and most caring students at Wylandville and I'm so proud of their eagerness to help others!", Hoffman boasted.
For more information on The Highmark Caring Place, contact your School Counselor, or visit www.highmarkcaringplace.com.
