Mattituck-Cutchogue Celebrates P.S. I Love You Day

 
The district spread warmth and love throughout the community on P.S. I Love You Day, celebrated on Feb. 14. The goal of P.S. I Love You Day is to eradicate the stigma around mental health and foster a supportive environment where everyone can feel welcome, loved and supported. 
              Cutchogue East Elementary School hosted a weeklong list of events that focused on kindness, caring, inclusion, antibullying and positivity. On Feb. 10 or Mellow Monday, students dressed in pajamas as a reminder of self-care. Tuesday (Monochromatic Day) students dressed in one color to symbolize unity. After reading Zachariah OHora’s “Fuzzy Inside and Out” and the poem “Warm Fuzzies” with the Mattituck-Cutchogue Jr.-Sr. High School Student Council, kindergarten and first grade students made their own fuzzies. The school community also made a purple chain to symbolize being linked together. Thursday’s theme was A Brighter Tomorrow, and students and teachers created word clouds and created lists about kindness, antibullying and positivity. The week culminated in P.S. I Love You Day in which everyone wore purple to symbolize love and kindness. Local businesses Amirati’s of Love Lane in Mattituck, Starbucks of Mattituck, Blacksheep Bagel of Cutchogue and NOFO Donut Shop also shared stickers with positive messages and drawings made by elementary school students. Ryan’s Team, a nonprofit organization in honor of Ryan Oliver, also raised mental health awareness to surrounding communities.
The Jr.-Sr. High School students wrote encouraging notes to peers, created positive displays around the schools and participated in discussions about mental health awareness. Ryan's Team donated breakfast platters, P.S. I Love you Signs and the flags for the front lawn. Eric Weston, from Alliance of Therapy Dogs also visited students with Cooper and discussed the benefits of petting a dog.