Young School students in Saco kicked off the school year with a powerful message of kindness, service, and community during their “Be the Yellow” event, inspired by educator and author Adam Peterson’s book Yellow.
The two-day celebration began with Principal Jeff Mears reading Yellow on Facebook Live as part of his “Tuesday Tales” series, reminding students and families of the power of kindness. The following morning, the entire school gathered for a spirited assembly before rotating through service stations led by the PTO. Students worked together to clean windows and vinyl siding, weed and plant flowers, and spruce up the school’s sensory wall, all as a way of giving back to their school community.
To mark the occasion, each student received a yellow-themed gift from the PTO, and the celebration concluded with students dipping their hands in yellow paint and leaving handprints on the school shed—a lasting symbol of their commitment to kindness.
“This event was about more than cleaning up our school,” said Principal Mears. “It was about showing our students that even small acts of service and kindness can make a big impact. The handprints on the shed will serve as a daily reminder to our students to think beyond themselves and to be the reason someone else smiles.”
During the event, first-grader Grace Morong said, “I like cleaning at school better than at home because my friends are here to help me.”
The “Be the Yellow” initiative will continue throughout the year, with the next event scheduled for November 5, 2025, when Young School students will honor and celebrate veterans.
For more information about the “Be the Yellow” movement, visit www.adampetersoneducation.com.
Young School students at one of the six work stations planting flowers during the school-wide “Be The Yellow” initiative.
Young School students Olivea Desmarais and Emma Blake reach high as they place their yellow handprint in paint to leave a mark on the school’s shed during the school-wide “Be The Yellow” initiative.