Start With Hello

Social isolation is a very real epidemic. Start With Hello teaches students to be more socially inclusive and connected to each other. 

Sign Up for Start With Hello  Week (SWHW)! Our fall Call-to-Action week is September 15-19. You’ll find no-cost tools and resources to help students feel safe and work toward a kinder community all year long!

About the Start With Hello Program

This evidence-informed program includes flexible training options and a developmentally appropriate curriculum. Start With Hello creates a culture of kindness and belonging for elementary, middle, and high school students. The program is designed around three goals, which are accomplished using the program's framework and reinforced throughout the program cycle.

Goals

The three goals of the Start With Hello program are to teach students how to:

  • Recognize loneliness and social isolation in their peers.
  • Help their peers who may be lonely and/or socially isolated.
  • Grow an empathetic and inclusive community.

Program Framework

The goals are accomplished using our three-step program framework:

  1. See Someone Alone: Learn to understand social isolation, empathize with those who may feel alone, learn how "healthy alone time" is different, and emphasize the importance of connection.
  2. Reach Out and Help: Develop strategies for connecting with others and ways to alleviate anxiety about reaching out.
  3. "Start with Hello": Apply methods to include others, build lasting relationships and support a connected and inclusive school and community.
Students standing with posterboard signs

How To Build A Start With Hello Culture

Our five-stage Start With Hello Program Cycle will help you implement the program and nurture a culture of kindness and belonging throughout the year. Designed to be flexible, the Program Cycle accommodates schools of different sizes, resources, and interests.

Additionally, our Collections feature below conveniently groups curated resources from each stage of the Program Cycle.

  1. Plan

    Plan a roadmap using our template for each stage of the program cycle.

  2. Train

    Train students using the foundational training.

  3. Engage

    Engage students throughout the year in learning activities that will deepen their understanding of the programs.

  4. Celebrate

    Celebrate the Start With Hello message through various engaging activities conducted during Call-to-Action weeks or celebrate during another time that works best for you.

  5. Grow

    Grow the Start With Hello message in your community by implementing additional activities.

SWH Program Cycle Plan Train Engage Celebrate Grow

Explore Start With Hello Collections

A Start With Hello Collection is a curated bundle of resources for each of the five stages of the Program Cycle. For each grade range, there is a:

  • Comprehensive Collection, which includes all 25 lessons in our five-unit curriculum.
  • Intermediate Collection, which includes 12 lessons in our five-unit curriculum.
  • Foundational Collection, which includes 6 lessons in our five-unit curriculum.

Choose the Start With Hello Collection that best meets your needs!

Arms with hands all coming together in the middle to form a bond

Choose a Grade Range

Start with Hello K-3 Collections

See All K-3 Collections

Collection5 Units, 34 Resources

Start With Hello logo in green circle with a white background.
Start With Hello
Comprehensive Collection: K-3

  • Grades K - 3

  • EN, SP

Collection0 Units, 36 Resources

Start With Hello logo in green circle with a white background.
Start With Hello
Intermediate Collection: K-3

  • Grades K - 3

  • EN, SP

Collection0 Units, 30 Resources

Start With Hello logo in green circle with a white background.
Start With Hello
Foundational Collection: K-3

  • Grades K - 3

  • EN, SP

Start with Hello 4-5 Collections

See All 4-5 Collections

Collection5 Units, 35 Resources

Start With Hello logo in green circle with a white background.
Start With Hello
Comprehensive Collection: 4-5

  • Grades 4 - 5

  • EN, SP

Collection0 Units, 37 Resources

Start With Hello logo in green circle with a white background.
Start With Hello
Intermediate Collection: 4-5

  • Grades 4 - 5

  • EN, SP

Collection0 Units, 28 Resources

Start With Hello logo in green circle with a white background.
Start With Hello
Foundational Collection: 4-5

  • Grades 4 - 5

  • EN, SP

Start with Hello 6-8 Collections

See All 6-8 Collections

Collection5 Units, 31 Resources

Start With Hello logo in green circle with a white background.
Start With Hello
Comprehensive Collection: 6-8

  • Grades 6 - 8

  • EN, HT, PT, SP, VI

Collection5 Units, 28 Resources

Start With Hello logo in green circle with a white background.
Start With Hello
Intermediate Collection

  • Grades 6 - 8

  • EN, HT, PT, SP, VI

Collection0 Units, 23 Resources

Start With Hello logo in green circle with a white background.
Start With Hello
Foundational Collection: 6-8

  • Grades 6 - 8

  • EN, HT, PT, SP, VI

Start with Hello 9-12 Collections

See All 9-12 Collections

Collection0 Units, 25 Resources

Start With Hello logo in green circle with a white background.
Start With Hello
High School Collection

  • Grades 9 - 12

  • EN, HT, PT, SP, VI

Other Ways to Get Involved

Say Something

The evidence-informed Say Something program cultivates and reinforces a culture of Upstanders and includes flexible training options, discussion guides, and engaging lesson plans.

Read About Say Something

Volunteer Opportunities

Join a growing movement of dedicated volunteers creating safer, healthier homes, schools and communities.

See Opportunities